IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-mRNA Vaccines Enhance Tumor Control and Synergize with 4-1BB Costimulatory Therapy

mRNA Vaccines Enhance Tumor Control and Synergize with 4-1BB Costimulatory Therapy

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This talk describes how non-tumor mRNA vaccines can boost cancer immunotherapy. The speaker found that mRNA vaccination increases co-stimulatory molecules, especially 4-1BB ligand, on dendritic cells and transiently raises 4-1BB on activated CD8 T cells. In mouse melanoma and colon cancer models, combining mRNA vaccination with low-dose 4-1BB agonist antibodies greatly reduced tumor growth, improved survival, and generated durable immune protection. Surprisingly, even spike-encoding vaccines not matched to the tumor enhanced tumor-specific CD8 responses. This antitumor effect depended on type I interferon signaling, suggesting off-the-shelf mRNA vaccines may sensitize tumors to 4-1BB co-stimulation therapy.

Meta Tag

Date April 16, 2026 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Room 157

Session Novel Tumor Therapies

Speaker Tanushree Dangi

Track Tumor Immunology: Checkpoints, Prevention, And Treatment (TIPT)

Year 2026

Keywords

mRNA vaccine

cancer immunotherapy

4-1BB co-stimulation

dendritic cells

type I interferon

April 16, 2026 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM

157

Novel Tumor Therapies

Tanushree Dangi

Tumor Immunology: Checkpoints, Prevention, And Treatment (TIPT)

2026