All cancer vaccines work by training your immune system to defend your body against harmful invaders or abnormal cells that may lead to cancer. There are two main types of cancer vaccines — Preventive Cancer Vaccines and Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines — both designed to protect or treat in distinct ways.
Preventive Cancer Vaccines
Most people are familiar with preventive vaccines, which help the body fight against viruses or bacteria. Examples include flu shots, measles vaccines, and the COVID-19 vaccine. Preventive cancer vaccines function similarly — but instead of stopping viral infections alone, they protect the body from viruses that can eventually cause cancer.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
The HPV vaccine prevents infection from the human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common viruses globally. Chronic HPV infection can lead to several types of cancer, including cervical, head and neck, anal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. The HPV vaccine significantly reduces the risk of developing these cancers.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), can lead to liver damage and eventually liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is highly effective in reducing the risk of liver cancer by preventing chronic HBV infection.
Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines
Unlike preventive vaccines, therapeutic cancer vaccines are designed to treat cancer after it develops. They work by training your immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells already present in the body.
These vaccines expose your immune system to specific molecules called antigens, which are unique to certain cancers. The immune system learns to recognize these antigens and targets the corresponding cancer cells for destruction. Therapeutic vaccines are often combined with adjuvants — substances that boost immune response.
Therapeutic cancer vaccines can:
Stop a tumor from growing or spreading
Eliminate remaining cancer cells after surgery or radiation
Prevent cancer from returning after treatment
Challenges for Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines
While promising, therapeutic cancer vaccines face several challenges:
Immune suppression: Cancer cells often release molecules that suppress immune responses, preventing immune cells from attacking effectively.
Recognition difficulty: Because cancer cells originate from normal cells, the immune system may struggle to recognize them as threats.
Antigen targeting: Finding cancer-specific antigens is complex; if an antigen exists on both normal and cancerous cells, it can trigger side effects.
Tumor size: Larger tumors often have more immune-suppressing cells, reducing the effectiveness of vaccines.
Weakened immune systems: Older individuals and cancer patients may not respond strongly enough to vaccines.
Because of these challenges, therapeutic cancer vaccines are often used in combination with other cancer treatments to improve effectiveness.
Approved Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines
Several therapeutic cancer vaccines have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for different cancers:
Prostate Cancer Vaccine – Sipuleucel-T (Provenge®)
Used for patients with metastatic prostate cancer, Provenge involves collecting immune cells, exposing them to a prostate cancer antigen, and infusing them back into the body. This personalized approach has been shown to extend survival in men with advanced prostate cancer.
Bladder Cancer Vaccines
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG): Made from inactivated tuberculosis bacteria, BCG is placed into the bladder to trigger immune cells to attack bladder cancer.
Nadofaragene firadonevec (Adstiladrin®): For bladder cancers resistant to BCG, this therapy uses a genetically engineered virus to activate immune response inside the bladder.
Melanoma Vaccine – T-VEC (Imlygic®)
An oncolytic virus-based cancer vaccine, T-VEC treats advanced melanoma that cannot be surgically removed. It uses a modified virus that promotes an immune response to kill cancer cells.
Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trials
Research is advancing rapidly, with many clinical trials underway for next-generation cancer vaccines.
Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine
At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), researchers are testing an mRNA vaccine designed to prevent pancreatic cancer from returning after surgery. Developed in collaboration with BioNTech, this vaccine is used alongside checkpoint inhibitors to enhance immune attack on cancer cells.
Head and Neck Cancer Vaccine
Another MSK trial is testing a therapeutic vaccine targeting HPV-associated head and neck cancers, using HPV proteins to activate the immune system against infected and cancerous cells.
Improving Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines
Advancements in genetic sequencing have led to the discovery of new cancer-specific antigens and neoantigens—abnormal proteins formed by mutations in cancer cells. These neoantigens are helping scientists create more targeted and powerful cancer vaccines for personalized treatment.
Combination Cancer Therapies
Many experts now believe that cancer vaccines work best when combined with other treatments, such as checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapies. Since tumors can suppress immune activity, combination strategies help overcome these barriers and boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer.
Oncolytic Virus-Based Vaccines
Oncolytic virus vaccines use viruses that can infect and destroy cancer cells while stimulating a powerful immune response. These vaccines act as both antigen and adjuvant—helping the body recognize and attack cancer more effectively.
Intratumoral Therapies (In Situ Vaccines)
In in situ vaccination, immune-activating agents are injected directly into a tumor, turning the tumor itself into a vaccine source. This approach triggers the body’s immune system to target the cancer using its own antigens. Various immune stimulants, such as oncolytic viruses, antibodies, and bacteria, are being explored in this area.
The Future of Cancer Vaccines
The future of cancer vaccines lies in personalization, combining immunotherapy with precision medicine. By tailoring vaccines to each patient’s tumor profile, researchers aim to deliver treatments that are safer, more targeted, and longer-lasting.
Empower Your Cancer Care Journey with MediPocket USA
At MediPocket USA, we connect international patients to cutting-edge cancer care and clinical trials across leading U.S. hospitals. Whether you’re exploring preventive solutions or seeking access to therapeutic cancer vaccines, our Medical Concierge team ensures you receive expert guidance, world-class treatment options, and compassionate support at every step.
Your fight against cancer deserves the best global care.
Discover the latest cancer vaccine innovations in the USA.
