Imatinib mesylate and nilotinib affect MHC-class I presentation by modulating the proteasomal processing of antigenic peptides.

Imatinib (IM) has been described to modulate the function of dendritic cells and T lymphocytes and to affect the expression of antigen in CML cells. In our study, we investigated the effect of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors IM and nilotinib (NI) on antigen presentation and processing by analyzing the proteasomal activity in CML cell lines and patient samples. We used a biotinylated active site-directed probe, which covalently binds to the proteasomally active beta-subunits in an activity-dependent fashion.

Highly potent mRNA based cancer vaccines represent an attractive platform for combination therapies supporting an improved therapeutic effect.

Direct vaccination with mRNA encoding tumor antigens is a novel and promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. CureVac's mRNA vaccines contain free and protamine-complexed mRNA. Such two-component mRNA vaccines support both antigen expression and immune stimulation.

Messenger RNA-based vaccines with dual activity induce balanced TLR-7 dependent adaptive immune responses and provide antitumor activity.

Direct vaccination with messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules encoding tumor-associated antigens is a novel and promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. The main advantage of using mRNA for vaccination is that the same molecule not only provides an antigen source for adaptive immunity, but can simultaneously bind to pattern recognition receptors, thus stimulating innate immunity. However, achieving both features remains challenging, as the complexation of mRNA required for immune-stimulating activity may inhibit its translatability.