If you don’t have cancer, value life. If you have it, value it even more.
Jim StynesGaelic football player, died of melanoma (1966-2012)
In 2023, according to estimates by the World Health Organization, cancer will be responsible for the deaths of 10 million people, a number that continues to increase. Fortunately, recent studies presented this year point to a new light of hope in this difficult and sometimes inglorious battle against cancer. These investigations reinforce the enormous potential of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, initially developed to combat COVID19 and crucial in controlling the pandemic. It is important to remember the award of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman, for the discoveries that made the development of these vaccines possible — the second time that a team linked to a vaccine was distinguished with the greatest award in science. The first was in 1951, when Max Theiler was awarded for developing the vaccine against yellow fever.
Initial trials in mice revealed a beneficial effect of mRNA vaccines on some types of cancer, a benefit not related to the prevention of COVID19 or direct action on the tumor. Subsequent studies, presented this year by doctors and scientists from the University of Florida and the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, involving more than a thousand patients with lung cancer or melanoma, confirmed these results, with significant gains in survival. In cases of advanced lung cancer, patients who received the mRNA vaccine up to 100 days after starting anticancer immunotherapy saw survival almost double, from 21 to 37 months. In metastatic melanoma, survival increased from 27 to at least 40 months. Impressive results, attributed to the stimulation of the immune system, which reinforced the effectiveness of immunological therapies.
It is important to highlight that these benefits occurred only with mRNA vaccines, in patients undergoing immunotherapy, and when administered within the 100-day window between the start of treatment and vaccination. The researchers collected preliminary data, not yet published, that suggest that application within 30 days before or after immunotherapy could have an even greater impact.
Without a doubt, this is very encouraging news in the fight against one of Humanity’s greatest scourges, at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration announced a 500 million dollar cut in funding for research into mRNA technology. Let’s hope these cuts do not impact this crucial investigation.
In conclusion, if life must always be valued, there is only life if we know how to value science.
Doctorate in Public Health
Member of the National Public Health Council