New mRNA immunotherapy eliminates pancreatic tumors in mice
Inspired by the work of the RNA Therapeutics Institute at UMass Chan Medical School and the development of the COVID vaccine, Marcus Ruscetti, Ph.D., and Chaitanya Naimesh Parikh, Ph.D. '26, have developed an immunotherapy using a cocktail of messenger RNAs (mRNA) that could potentially transform pancreatic cancer treatment.
Researchers at UMass Chan Medical School have developed a groundbreaking mRNA immunotherapy that eliminates pancreatic tumors in mice. The innovative treatment, published in Nature Communications, uses a cocktail of messenger RNAs (mRNA) to stimulate the immune system against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer.
The study, led by Dr. Marcus Ruscetti and Dr. Chaitanya Naimesh Parikh, combined immune cytokine and tumor-associated antigen mRNAs into a single injection. The result was remarkable: around 50% of mice with pancreatic cancer experienced complete tumor responses, and those that did remained disease-free for a year after treatment concluded. This is the first instance of such durable tumor protection in pancreatic cancer models.
Unlike previous immunotherapies that activated the entire immune system, leading to dangerous side effects, this targeted approach specifically addresses the unique challenges posed by pancreatic cancer. The cancer cells create a fibrotic barrier, preventing immune cells from reaching the tumor. The new mRNA immunotherapy breaks down this barrier, allowing immune cells to enter and recognize the cancer cells as foreign, eliminating them more effectively.
Furthermore, the mRNA immunotherapy has the potential to be adapted for other immune-resistant cancers by simply swapping out different mRNA sequences. Researchers are now working on developing an IND-ready product for clinical trials, marking a significant step towards a more effective treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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