Table 4 Major cancer vaccine technologies
From: Vaccines: a promising therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome
Cancer vaccine technology | Description | Manufacturing steps | Key quality control checks |
|---|---|---|---|
Peptide-based vaccines | Utilize specific peptides derived from tumor-associated antigens to stimulate an immune response | Antigen selection and characterization Peptide design Peptide synthesis and purification Formulation with adjuvants Sterilization | Peptide identification and purity testing Potency Stability Interaction with adjuvant |
Neoantigen-based vaccines | Target neoantigens unique to an individual’s tumor cells to activate personalized and targeted immune response | Tumor sample collection Genomic and proteomic analysis to identify neoantigens Production of neoantigen peptides or neoantigen encoding genetic material Formulation with adjuvants or carrier proteins | Identity and purity testing Potency Sterility Stability |
Dendritic cell vaccines | Utilize DCs as professional antigen-presenting cells to activate immune system | Patient sample collection and isolation of DCs Dendritic cell culture and maturation Loading dendritic cells with tumor antigens Formulation with adjuvants Sterilization | Assessment of dendritic cell viability and expression of maturation markers Potency Stability |
Whole-tumor-cell Vaccines | Utilize whole tumor cells to stimulate a broad immune response | Patient sample collection and isolation of tumor cells Inactivation and modification of tumor cells Formulation with adjuvant Sterilization | Identity and purity testing Sterility Potency Stability |
mRNA Vaccines | Introduce tumor antigen encoding mRNA o activate immune response against tumor antigens | Antigen selection and design of mRNA sequence Synthesis of mRNA using in vitro transcription Purification of mRNA 3’End Capping and Polyadenylation Formulation with lipid nanoparticles or protein-based carriers | Identity and purity testing of mRNA sequence Sterility Potency Stability |
DNA Vaccines | Introduce tumor antigen encoding DNA to activate the immune response against tumor antigens | Selection of TAA Cloning the genes encoding TAA into a plasmid vector Plasmid amplification and purification Formulation with delivery vectors Sterilization | Identity, purity and quantification testing of purified plasmid DNA Sterility |
Viral vector-based vaccines | Utilize viral vector to deliver genetic material encoding tumor antigens | Selection of viral vector Synthesis of recombinant viral vector Propagation in host cell followed by harvesting and purification Formulation with adjuvant Sterilization | Identity and purity testing Sterility Potency Quantitative analysis of viral vector Host cell DNA residual testing Stability |
Virus like particle (VLP)-based vaccine | Use structural mimicry of viruses to generate robust immune response | Propagation of genes encoding tumor-associated antigen in host cells Identification of suitable expression system for production of VLP Fusion or insertion of TAA genes in expression system and production of TAA modifies VLPs Harvesting and purification Formulation with stabilizers and adjuvants Sterilization | Identity, purity and quantification of TAA-modified VLPs Sterility Stability |