Learn about the nano-vaccine for melanoma

Tel Aviv University scientists have developed a novel nano-vaccine for melanoma, which injection of nanoparticles has proven effective in mouse models.

Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU), Israel, have developed a novel nano-vaccine for melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer. Their ground-breaking approach has been proven effective in the development of melanoma in cancer and primary tumors and metastases that result from melanoma.

Using nanoparticles to create a nano-vaccine

The focus of the research is on nanoparticle that serves as the basis for the new vaccine. The study was led by Professor Ronit Satchi-Fainaro of TAU, and Professor Helena Florindo of the University of Lisbon, Portugal; It was conducted by Dr. Anna Scomparin of Satchi-Fainaro's TAU lab and postdoctoral fellow Dr. João Conniot. The results were published in Nature Nanotechnology.

Melanoma develops in the skin cells that produces melanin or skin pigment.

Satchi-Fainaro said: "The war against cancer in general, and melanoma in particular, has advanced over the years through a variety of treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy; but the vaccine approach, which has proven effective against various viral diseases, has not materialized yet against cancer ".

"In our study, we have shown that it is possible to produce an effective nano-vaccinia against melanoma and to sensitize the immune system to immunotherapies."

Details of the study

The researchers harnessed tiny particles, about 170 nanometers in size, made of a biodegradable polymer. Within each particle, they are packed two peptides – short chains of amino acids, which are expressed in melanoma cells. They then injected the nanoparticles (or nano-vaccines) into a mouse model bearing melanoma.

"The nanoparticles acted just like known vaccines for viral-borne diseases" Satchi-Fainaro explains.

"They stimulated the immune system of the mice, and the immune cells learned to identify and attack cells containing the two peptides – that is, the melanoma cells.

"That meant that, the immune system will be attacked by melanoma cells if and when they appear in the body."

Testing the effectiveness

The researchers then examined the effectiveness of the vaccine under three different conditions.

1. First, the vaccine proved to have prophylactic effects. The vaccine was injected into healthy mice, and an injection of melanoma cells followed. "The result was that the mice did not get sick," says Satchi-Fainaro.
2. Second, the nanoparticle was used to treat a primary tumor: a combination of the innovative vaccine and immunotherapy was tested on melanoma model mice. The synergistic treatment is significantly delayed the progression of the disease and greatly extended the lives of all the mice treated.
3. Thirdly, the researchers validated their approach to tissue taken from patients with melanoma brain metastases. This suggests that the nano-vaccine can be used to treat brain metastases as well. Mouse models with late-stage melanoma brain metastases had already been established following excision of the primary melanoma lesion, mimicking the clinical setting. Satchi-Fainaro's lab. Research on image-guided surgery.

"Our research opens the door to a completely new approach – the vaccine approach – for effective treatment of melanoma, even in the most advanced stages of the disease," concluded Satchi-Fainaro.

"We believe that our platform may also be suitable for other types of cancer and that our work is a solid foundation for the development of other cancer-nano-vaccines."