1
Normal cell
Cancer cells are
normal cells dividing uncontrollably
2
DNA strand
The cancer cells have many mutations in their DNA. The mutations are identified by sequencing and comparing DNA from both types of cells
Cancerous
Healthy
3
4
Selection
Instruction
Some of these problem mutations are selected as targets for the cancer vaccine
A molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA) is designed containing instructions on how to recognise those problem mutations
5
Injection
Once injected, the mRNA molecules help train the body’s immune cells to seek out the cancer cells and attack them
Immune cell
Mutation cell
1
2
Normal cell
DNA strand
Cancerous
Healthy
Cancer cells are
normal cells dividing uncontrollably
The cancer cells have many mutations in their DNA. The mutations are identified by sequencing and comparing DNA from both types of cells
3
4
Selection
Instruction
A molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA) is designed containing instructions on how to recognise those problem mutations
Some of these problem mutations are selected as targets for the cancer vaccine
5
Injection
Mutation cell
Immune cell
Once injected, the mRNA molecules help train the body’s immune cells to seek out the cancer cells and attack them