A new study suggests that SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines—the same type used to prevent COVID-19—can enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a major class of cancer immunotherapy.

Analyzing both preclinical models and human patients, researchers found that receiving a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within 100 days of starting ICI treatment was linked to significantly improved overall survival in individuals with non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma.

Mechanistically, the mRNA vaccines appear to trigger a surge in Type I interferon, which activates innate immune cells and helps prime T cells against tumor-associated antigens. This process turns previously “cold” tumors—those that typically resist immune attack—into “hot” tumors that respond more effectively to ICIs by increasing PD-L1 expression on tumor cells.

The findings highlight that widely available, non–tumor-specific mRNA vaccines can act as potent immune modulators, potentially overcoming intrinsic resistance to cancer immunotherapy. The researchers note that this discovery opens up a new avenue for enhancing existing cancer treatments using already approved vaccine platforms.

Sources：

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1102605

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09655-y

 

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