Table 13 The different types of mRNA vaccines encoding tumor-associated antigens (TAAs)
From: The use of RNA-based treatments in the field of cancer immunotherapy
TAA Type | Advantages | Disadvantages | Immunogenicity | Efficacy | Safety | Stability | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shared TAAs | Target a broad range of tumors, useful for prevention of cancers | Low specificity and efficacy against certain cancers | Moderate to high, depending on TAA specificity | Varies depending on TAA and cancer type | Generally safe but may cause autoimmune reactions | Short half-life and may require frequent dosing | [732] |
Differentiated TAAs | High specificity against individual cancer cells | Only effective against certain types of cancer cells | High | High, with potential for complete tumor regression | Generally safe but may cause autoimmune reactions | Short half-life and may require frequent dosing | [733] |
Cancer-testis antigens | Specific to tumor cells and not found in normal adult tissues | Expression may vary between patients and be low in some cases | High in patients expressing the TAA | Varies depending on TAA and cancer type | Generally safe but may cause autoimmune reactions | Short half-life and may require frequent dosing | [508] |
Overexpressed TAAs | Overexpressed in a broad range of cancers | May also be expressed in normal tissues, leading to toxicity | Moderate to high, depending on TAA specificity | Varies depending on TAA and cancer type, but potential for complete tumor regression | Generally safe but may cause autoimmune reactions | Short half-life and may require frequent dosing | [172] |