Researchers Launch “Universal” Cancer Vaccine into Human Trials

Scientists at the University of Florida Health have developed a novel universal mRNA‑based cancer vaccine that may activate the immune system to fight a wide range of cancer types. Unlike personalized neoantigen vaccines, this off‑the‑shelf therapy boosts type‑I interferon signals to enhance the body’s innate cancer defense and potentially improve the efficacy of existing immunotherapies. Preclinical testing in animal models, including melanoma, glioma, and metastatic bone cancer, showed significant tumor suppression effects, especially in typically “cold” tumors that evade immune detection. Human trials are now underway for pediatric high‑grade glioma and osteosarcoma, using a two‑stage approach that pairs the universal vaccine with subsequent personalized vaccines, offering a faster and broadly applicable route to cancer immunotherapy.