Could mRNA Give Us a Cancer Vaccine?

August 20, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Could mRNA Give Us a Cancer Vaccine?

The drug makers Merck and Moderna just announced a successful trial of a vaccine that helped guard melanoma survivors against the cancer coming back. The treatment, called entismeran, is a personalized cancer therapeutic vaccination strategy where "a patient's tumor is used as a blueprint to make their own individual vaccine," according to Dr. Michael Postow of Memorial Sloan Kettering, who was part of the clinical trial.

How the Personalized Vaccine Works

Unlike the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, which were "off-the-shelf" and identical for everyone, this approach is fundamentally different. Each patient gets their own custom-made vaccine. The process starts with surgically removing a patient's tumor, then using that tumor tissue as a genetic blueprint to create a personalized mRNA construct. The idea is to "steer the immune response directly to the tumor cells that are abnormal," so the body can eliminate residual cancer cells that might remain invisible after surgery.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:32) **Episode Introduction & mRNA Vaccine Context** - The host frames the promise of mRNA technology after COVID, referencing recent FDA approval of an mRNA flu vaccine and a major new trial for a cancer vaccine.
2 (03:00) **Guest Introduction & The Personalized Vaccine Mechanism** - Dr. Michael Postow of Memorial Sloan Kettering, a lead investigator on the trial, explains the new drug and how it works.
3 (03:48) **Trial Results: Reducing Recurrence of Melanoma** - Dr. Postow details that the vaccine, combined with the immunotherapy Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence after surgery compared to Keytruda alone.
4 (04:39) **Why mRNA is Critical for This Approach** - Dr. Postow explains why the mRNA platform is essential, not just convenient, for this personalized cancer strategy.
5 (05:55) **From Melanoma to a Universal Cancer Vaccine?** - Dr. Postow clarifies that this is not a melanoma-only treatment and is already being tested in clinical trials for many other cancers.
6 (06:54) **Next Steps: Regulatory Approval and Data Transparency** - Dr. Postow outlines the immediate future, noting the drug is still experimental and awaiting full data review.
7 (09:32) **Segment Transition: Primary Election Takeaways** - The show shifts to politics, noting that primary season is wrapping up and the latest results from Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming offer key lessons.

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Show Notes

Drugmakers Merck and Moderna unveil a study claiming an experimental mRNA vaccine reduced recurrence of melanoma. Progressive Democrats surprise analysts with primary wins in Florida. And a former Ukrainian defense minister says Volodymyr Zelenskyy should face a wartime election.

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