Personalized cancer vaccines: bridging immune-oncology and precision medicine for advanced therapeutics
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- 2Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- 3State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
- 4Research Center of Nanomedicine Technology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- 5Center for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (CNMMI), Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Jinan, China. [email protected]
- 6Research Center of Nanomedicine Technology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. [email protected]
Abstract
Despite advancements in therapeutic cancer vaccines, clinical translation has been hindered by limited efficacy, with Sipuleucel-T remaining the only FDA-approved therapeutic cancer vaccine to date. However, recent advances in personalized mRNA vaccines, such as Moderna's mRNA-4157 and BioNTech's autogene cevumeran, have demonstrated significant reductions in recurrence risk and improved survival across several cancer types, renewing optimism in the field. Personalized cancer vaccines leverage patient-specific tumor antigens to initiate potent and targeted immune responses. This review outlines various classes of personalized vaccines, including DNA-, mRNA-, peptide-, dendritic cell-, and whole-cell-based platforms, and examines the immunological challenges they face, such as tumor heterogeneity, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and inadequate immune memory. To address these limitations, both conventional and nanotechnology-enhanced delivery systems have been developed. Notably, nanovaccines constructed from lipid-polymer hybrids, biomimetic membranes, and stimulus-responsive materials enable codelivery of neoantigens and immunostimulatory agonists, promoting enhanced lymph node targeting, dendritic cell activation, and antigen cross-presentation. Furthermore, biomimetic formulations incorporating autologous tumor membranes preserve native antigenic diversity and allow dynamic adaptation to evolving tumors. When integrated with artificial intelligence for antigen selection and multiomics for patient stratification, these platforms accelerate vaccine design and improve precision. Combination regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors or other agents further potentiate efficacy and promote durable antitumor immunity. Increasing clinical evidence, especially in melanoma and pancreatic cancer, underscores the potential of these strategies to induce long-term protection and reduce recurrence. Overall, next-generation personalized cancer vaccines are advancing the transition from reactive treatment to proactive, precision-controlled cancer immunotherapy.
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BibTeX
@article{ye2026personalized,
title = {{Personalized cancer vaccines: bridging immune-oncology and precision medicine for advanced therapeutics}},
author = {Leiguang Ye and Guo Zhao and Jiaxiu Ma and Qianqian Gan and Na Luo and Dingyu Pan and Chunxi Chen and Xiaoyuan Shawn Chen and Shipeng Ning},
journal = {Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41392-026-02769-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-026-02769-3},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Personalized cancer vaccines: bridging immune-oncology and precision medicine for advanced therapeutics
AU - Leiguang Ye
AU - Guo Zhao
AU - Jiaxiu Ma
AU - Qianqian Gan
AU - Na Luo
AU - Dingyu Pan
AU - Chunxi Chen
AU - Xiaoyuan Shawn Chen
AU - Shipeng Ning
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/21
JO - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
DO - 10.1038/s41392-026-02769-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-026-02769-3
AB - Despite advancements in therapeutic cancer vaccines, clinical translation has been hindered by limited efficacy, with Sipuleucel-T remaining the only FDA-approved therapeutic cancer vaccine to date. However, recent advances in personalized mRNA vaccines, such as Moderna's mRNA-4157 and BioNTech's autogene cevumeran, have demonstrated significant reductions in recurrence risk and improved survival across several cancer types, renewing optimism in the field. Personalized cancer vaccines leverage patient-specific tumor antigens to initiate potent and targeted immune responses. This review outlines various classes of personalized vaccines, including DNA-, mRNA-, peptide-, dendritic cell-, and whole-cell-based platforms, and examines the immunological challenges they face, such as tumor heterogeneity, immunosuppressive microenvironments, and inadequate immune memory. To address these limitations, both conventional and nanotechnology-enhanced delivery systems have been developed. Notably, nanovaccines constructed from lipid-polymer hybrids, biomimetic membranes, and stimulus-responsive materials enable codelivery of neoantigens and immunostimulatory agonists, promoting enhanced lymph node targeting, dendritic cell activation, and antigen cross-presentation. Furthermore, biomimetic formulations incorporating autologous tumor membranes preserve native antigenic diversity and allow dynamic adaptation to evolving tumors. When integrated with artificial intelligence for antigen selection and multiomics for patient stratification, these platforms accelerate vaccine design and improve precision. Combination regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors or other agents further potentiate efficacy and promote durable antitumor immunity. Increasing clinical evidence, especially in melanoma and pancreatic cancer, underscores the potential of these strategies to induce long-term protection and reduce recurrence. Overall, next-generation personalized cancer vaccines are advancing the transition from reactive treatment to proactive, precision-controlled cancer immunotherapy.
SN - 2059-3635
SN - 2095-9907
ER -