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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, responsible for approximately 10 million deaths in 2022 and an estimated 21 million new cases in 2024. Traditional cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy often present limitations in efficacy and side effects. However, immunotherapeutic vaccines have emerged as a promising approach, leveraging the body’s immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. This review examines the evolving landscape of cancer vaccines, differentiating between preventive and therapeutic strategies and highlighting the significance of tumor-specific antigens, including tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and neoantigens. Recent advancements in vaccine technology, particularly through nanotechnology, have resulted in the development of nanovaccines, which enhance antigen stability, optimize delivery to immune cells, and promote robust immune responses. Notably, clinical data indicate that patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors can achieve overall survival rates of approximately 34.8 months compared to just 15.7 months for traditional therapies. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, such as the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity. Emerging evidence suggests that combining nanovaccines with immunomodulators may enhance therapeutic efficacy by overcoming these obstacles. Continued research and interdisciplinary collaboration will be essential to fully exploit the promise of nanovaccines, ultimately leading to more effective and accessible treatments for cancer patients. The future of cancer immunotherapy appears increasingly hopeful as these innovative strategies pave the way for enhanced patient outcomes and an improved quality of life in oncology.

Details

Title
Cancer Vaccines and Beyond: The Transformative Role of Nanotechnology in Immunotherapy
Author
Delgado-Almenta, Violeta 1 ; Blaya-Cánovas, Jose L 2 ; Calahorra, Jesús 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; López-Tejada, Araceli 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Griñán-Lisón, Carmen 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Granados-Principal, Sergio 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, 18016 Granada, Spain; [email protected] (V.D.-A.); [email protected] (J.L.B.-C.); [email protected] (J.C.); [email protected] (A.L.-T.) 
 GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, 18016 Granada, Spain; [email protected] (V.D.-A.); [email protected] (J.L.B.-C.); [email protected] (J.C.); [email protected] (A.L.-T.); Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain 
 GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, 18016 Granada, Spain; [email protected] (V.D.-A.); [email protected] (J.L.B.-C.); [email protected] (J.C.); [email protected] (A.L.-T.); Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18011 Granada, Spain 
 GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, 18016 Granada, Spain; [email protected] (V.D.-A.); [email protected] (J.L.B.-C.); [email protected] (J.C.); [email protected] (A.L.-T.); Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18011 Granada, Spain; Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain 
First page
216
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
19994923
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3171178800
Copyright
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.