Robinson BWS, Creaney J, Redwood A, Rwandamuriye F
Funding: 2022/GR001404 – Australian Centre for RNA therapeutics for cancer (2025-2027)
Lay synopsis: Immunotherapy has led to long-term remission and even cures for some patients with previously untreatable cancers. However, many patients still do not benefit, highlighting the need to unlock the full potential of the immune system in cancer treatment.
Tumour DNA mutations produce abnormal proteins, or neoantigens, that the immune system can recognise as threats. Our team has shown that vaccines targeting these neoantigens can trigger strong immune responses in lab models, and we are now testing their effectiveness in patients. Inspired by the success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, we aim to transition to mRNA-based vaccines. This innovative approach could make cancer vaccines more effective, cheaper to produce, and capable of targeting a broader range of cancers.
Scientific synopsis: Tumour-specific mutations are ideal targets for cancer immunotherapy because they are not expressed in healthy tissues and can potentially be recognised by the immune system as neoantigens. Our team has made significant progress in developing personalised neoantigen peptide vaccines by utilising advanced immunoproteomic, genomic, and bioinformatic approaches to predict, identify, and characterise neoantigens. We have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of these vaccines in preclinical models, with ongoing Phase 1 clinical trials.
The recent success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 has sparked growing interest in using mRNA-based vaccines and immunotherapies as cancer treatments. Our goal is to transition from peptide-based to mRNA-based neoantigen vaccines, leveraging the advantages of mRNA technology to deliver neoantigens more effectively. This approach may not only improve vaccine efficacy and reduce production costs but may also offer greater flexibility in targeting a wider range of neoantigens. Our area of research interests includes:
1) Designing improved mRNA constructs to improve efficacy: e.g., mRNA construct design and optimisation, enhancing antigen processing and presentation, etc.
2) Improved formulations for mRNA delivery: e.g., targeting key immune cells, localised or gradual delivery of mRNA and immune adjuvants