Longevity & AgingiPSC Vaccines Show Promise Breaking Immune Resistance in Hard-to-Treat Colon Cancer
Microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC) resists current immunotherapies due to low mutation load and an immunosuppressive tumor environment. This review examines a novel approach: vaccines derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which naturally re-express cancer-associated antigens also found on tumor cells. When irradiated and combined with immune adjuvants, these iPSC-derived vaccines activate cancer-killing T cells and shift the tumor microenvironment toward an immune-active state. Adding engineered neoantigens like KRAS mutations further broadens immune targeting. Preclinical results across multiple cancer types, including MSS CRC, show both preventive and therapeutic benefits, especially when combined with radiotherapy. The authors outline next steps toward clinical translation.
