Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41597174›Full record

ReviewCells2026

Advances in mRNA-Based Melanoma Vaccines: A Narrative Review of Lipid Nanoparticle and Dendritic Cell Delivery Platforms.

Connor K Sisk, Laci M Turner, Shafkat Meraj, Nabiha Yusuf

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cells, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Connor K SiskHeersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.ORCID 0009-0004-0191-6261
Laci M TurnerHeersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.ORCID 0009-0008-4034-3637
Shafkat MerajHeersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5434-7243
Nabiha YusufDepartment of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, VH566A, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5730-0037

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Melanoma remains one of the deadliest cutaneous malignancies worldwide, and despite advances in systemic therapy, recurrence and treatment resistance remain frequent challenges. Following the success of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, mRNA-based cancer vaccines targeting melanoma antigens have emerged as a promising therapeutic direction. This review summarizes current evidence on mRNA melanoma vaccines, focusing on two leading delivery platforms: lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and dendritic cell (DC) vaccines. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus from 2015 to 2025 identified clinical trials, preclinical studies, and review articles evaluating mRNA vaccine constructs and delivery strategies. Completed clinical studies demonstrate that personalized LNP-formulated mRNA vaccines can enhance neoantigen-specific T-cell responses and improve recurrence-free survival, particularly when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. DC-based mRNA vaccines also show potent immunogenicity, with stronger responses observed when DC maturation is optimized. Ongoing trials continue to investigate next-generation LNP formulations, DC priming strategies, and personalized neoantigen approaches. Overall, current evidence indicates that both LNP and DC platforms can augment antitumor immunity by broadening T-cell responses and enhancing checkpoint inhibition. Continued refinement of delivery vehicles, neoantigen selection, and scalable manufacturing processes will be essential to realizing the full clinical potential of mRNA vaccines in melanoma.

Indexed as

Cancer VaccinesDendritic CellsLipidsMelanomaNanoparticlesRNA, MessengerAnimalsAntigens, NeoplasmHumansLiposomesmRNA VaccinesNanovaccinesAntigens, NeoplasmCancer VaccinesLipid NanoparticlesLipidsLiposomesmRNA VaccinesNanovaccinesRNA, Messengercombination therapydendritic cell vaccinesimmunotherapylipid nanoparticlemelanomamRNA vaccineneoantigenpersonalized cancer vaccines

Identifiers

PMID41597174
PMCPMC12838701

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.