INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF
PharmacoGenetics
Engineered Exosome-Based Cancer Vaccines: A Novel Strategy for Tumor Antigen Delivery and Immune Activation
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Mohamadamir kakaee ,1,*
1. shahid beheshti university of medical sciences
- Introduction: Cancer remains a major global health challenge, and despite advances in treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, there is a growing need for innovative approaches such as cancer vaccines. These vaccines aim to activate the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells, offering a promising alternative to conventional therapies. Recent progress in cancer immunology has renewed interest in therapeutic vaccines. Among emerging platforms, exosomes—small extracellular vesicles released by cells—have shown great potential. They can effectively deliver tumor antigens to immune cells and modulate immune responses. Exosomes derived from tumor or immune cells possess unique properties that make them attractive for vaccine development. Although challenges like low yield and purification difficulties remain, ongoing research highlights exosomes as a powerful tool in next-generation cancer immunotherapy, potentially improving the efficacy and precision of cancer vaccines.
- Methods: A strategic literature search was conducted using databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SID to identify relevant studies on the role of exosomes in cancer vaccine development. The search was performed using key terms such as “cancer vaccine” and “exosome.” Initial results yielded 471 articles in PubMed, 24 in SID, and additional relevant records from ScienceDirect. Inclusion criteria comprised peer-reviewed original research or review articles published in English between 2010 and 2025, focusing on exosome-based cancer vaccines, their mechanisms, or clinical applications. Exclusion criteria included non-English papers, conference abstracts, and studies unrelated to cancer immunotherapy. After applying these criteria and screening titles and abstracts, 78 articles were selected for full-text review. Among these, 19 studies were subjected to in-depth analysis based on their scientific relevance, novelty, and methodological quality. This strategy ensured a focused and comprehensive understanding of the current advances and challenges in exosome-based cancer vaccine development.
- Results: Engineered exosome-based cancer vaccines have demonstrated significant potential across various studies, positioning them as promising immunotherapeutic tools. One notable example is the use of α-lactalbumin-engineered exosomes (HELA-Exos) in breast cancer models, where they effectively induced immunogenic cell death and activated dendritic cells, leading to robust CD8+ T cell responses and tumor suppression, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (Huang, 2022). Similarly, nanoscale cancer vaccines utilizing exosomes have shown the ability to present antigens efficiently and stimulate strong immune responses, offering a potential advantage over traditional vaccine platforms (Tan, 2010). In the context of solid tumors, immune cell-derived exosomes have proven capable of modulating the immune system to elicit potent antitumor effects, with their properties being enhanced through genetic or chemical engineering (Lyu, 2024). Moreover, clinical-grade exosomes targeting oncogenic Kras have shown efficacy in pancreatic cancer mouse models by suppressing tumor growth and improving survival, demonstrating the feasibility of clinical applications (Mendt, 2018). Overall, engineered exosomes can be customized for improved targeting, antigen delivery, and therapeutic performance. While further investigation and human clinical trials are essential, current evidence supports their role as innovative and effective platforms for cancer vaccine development and immunotherapy (Zhang, 2023).
- Conclusion: Engineered exosome-based cancer vaccines are emerging as a promising innovation in cancer immunotherapy. These vaccines utilize the natural ability of exosomes—small vesicles secreted by cells—to deliver tumor antigens and immunomodulatory molecules to the immune system. They can activate dendritic cells and promote antigen presentation to T cells, leading to strong anti-tumor immune responses. One of their key advantages is targeted delivery; engineered exosomes can be modified to home in on tumor sites, increasing efficacy while reducing side effects. Recent studies have highlighted the superior performance of dendritic cell-derived exosomes compared to traditional dendritic cell vaccines. Some approaches, such as in situ vaccination with engineered exosomes, have shown the ability to induce immunogenic cell death and activate local immune responses. Engineered exosomes have also demonstrated potential in clinical settings, including the prevention of cancer metastasis and improved survival in animal models. However, challenges remain. Standardizing production and ensuring consistent quality are critical for clinical translation. More research is also needed to fully understand their mechanisms of action and how best to combine them with existing treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors. Despite these hurdles, engineered exosome-based vaccines offer a powerful and versatile platform for advancing cancer therapy.
- Keywords: Cancer vaccine Exosomes
