Overview
- A retrospective MD Anderson analysis of more than 1,000 patients found those who received an mRNA COVID shot within 100 days of starting immune checkpoint therapy lived substantially longer.
- In advanced non‑small cell lung cancer, median survival was 37.3 months for 180 vaccinated patients versus 20.6 months for 704 unvaccinated patients.
- Among metastatic melanoma patients, median survival was 26.7 months without vaccination and was not yet reached in the 43 who were vaccinated within the window.
- The association appeared specific to mRNA vaccines, as flu and pneumonia shots were not linked to improved longevity in the cohorts analyzed.
- Preclinical and immune‑profiling work indicated mRNA vaccination activates antigen‑presenting cells and increases tumor PD‑L1, supporting synergy with checkpoint inhibitors; investigators disclosed related mRNA vaccine patents licensed to iOncologi and are planning multi‑center trials through OneFlorida+.