HPV16 E6/E7 -based mRNA vaccine is therapeutic in mice bearing aggressive HPV-positive lesions

HPV (Human papillomavirus) affects 600,000 people worldwide each year. Almost all cervical cancers are associated with a past infection. In particular, the positivity to high-risk type HPV16 is detected in most of invasive cancers. FDA has approved prophylactic vaccines that protect against new infections, but do not induce immunity those patients established infections or neoplasms. To date, no therapeutic vaccine targeting HPV16-associated lesions been authorized. We have developed an mRNA-based late oncoproteins E6 and E7, which abundantly exclusively expressed high-grade squamous intraepithelial (HSILs), stage disease precedes progression carcinoma. Our vitro vivo studies demonstrated translated mRNA functional elicits antigen-specific adaptive immune response. Upon immunization vaccine, mice HPV16+ exhibited tumor growth inhibition, extension lifespan, development protective memory. light these results remarkable clinical success SARS-CoV2, we believe our potential offer non-invasive treatment alternative current standard care for HSILs.