Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a nanoparticle-based cancer vaccine that prevented melanoma, pancreatic, and triple-negative breast cancers in mice. Up to 88% of vaccinated mice remained tumor-free, with the vaccine also stopping metastasis. The approach uses a 'super adjuvant' to trigger strong immune responses.
In a study published on October 9, 2025, in Cell Reports Medicine, Prabhani Atukorale, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at UMass Amherst, and her team demonstrated the vaccine's potential. The nanoparticle system combines cancer-specific antigens with a lipid nanoparticle 'super adjuvant' that activates multiple immune pathways, leading to powerful T-cell responses and long-term memory immunity.
The first experiment targeted melanoma using known antigens similar to those in flu shots. Mice vaccinated with the nanoparticle formulation were exposed to melanoma cells three weeks later. Eighty percent remained tumor-free and survived 250 days, compared to all unvaccinated or traditionally vaccinated mice developing tumors and dying within 35 days. When exposed systemically to mimic metastasis, none of the nanoparticle-vaccinated mice developed lung tumors, while others did.
"By engineering these nanoparticles to activate the immune system via multi-pathway activation that combines with cancer-specific antigens, we can prevent tumor growth with remarkable survival rates," Atukorale said.
To broaden applicability without needing extensive antigen sequencing, the team tested a version using tumor lysate from killed cancer cells. Vaccinated mice exposed to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, or melanoma showed rejection rates of 88%, 75%, and 69%, respectively. All tumor-free mice also resisted metastasis.
"The tumor-specific T-cell responses that we are able to generate—that is really the key behind the survival benefit," said Griffin Kane, postdoctoral research associate and first author. The design mimics natural pathogen signals, encapsulating two adjuvants for synergistic immunity.
Atukorale noted the challenge of metastases: "Metastases across the board is the highest hurdle for cancer." The platform could enable preventive vaccines for high-risk individuals. Atukorale and Kane founded NanoVax Therapeutics to advance this toward clinical use, with plans for therapeutic applications. Funding came from the National Institutes of Health, supported by UMass Amherst's biomedical engineering department and Institute for Applied Life Sciences.