Common Vaccine Doubles Cancer Survival Rates, Researchers Report

A groundbreaking study has revealed that a common vaccine may significantly improve cancer survival rates for patients undergoing immunotherapy. Researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center conducted an extensive analysis involving over 1,000 patients with advanced stages of lung cancer and metastatic melanoma. The findings were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Berlin on October 19, 2025, and published in the journal Nature.

Vaccine Link to Cancer Survival Rates

The study focused on patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors, a class of immunotherapy drugs designed to help the immune system effectively target and destroy tumor cells. Notably, those who were administered the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine within 100 days of starting this treatment exhibited a remarkable improvement in survival rates.

• Average survival rates: Patients who received both the vaccine and immunotherapy had an average survival of 37.3 months, compared to just 20.6 months for those who did not.
• Survival benefits: The most significant improvement was observed in patients with “cold” tumors, yielding nearly a five-fold increase in three-year overall survival rates.

Research Methodology

To reinforce these findings, researchers replicated their results in mouse models. Mice treated with a combination of immunotherapy drugs and the mRNA vaccine targeting the COVID-19 spike protein displayed increased tumor responsiveness to treatment.

Notably, traditional vaccines, including those for flu and pneumonia, did not demonstrate similar benefits, highlighting the unique efficacy of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in this context.

Implications for Oncologic Care

Senior researcher Dr. Elias Sayour emphasized the revolutionary potential of these findings. “The implications are extraordinary,” he noted, suggesting that this approach could fundamentally change oncologic care. Even though these results are observational, both Dr. Sayour and his colleague Dr. Duane Mitchell stress the urgent need for further clinical trials to validate these promising outcomes.

Next Steps in Research

The researchers plan to initiate a large clinical trial through the OneFlorida+ Clinical Research Network, which includes hospitals and health centers across several states, including Florida, Georgia, and California. This trial aims to explore the development of a “universal, off-the-shelf” vaccine designed to enhance immune responses in cancer patients.

Dr. Sayour highlighted the importance of this research, stating that even incremental improvements in survival could have a significant impact on patient outcomes across various cancer types. The study received support from multiple organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the American Brain Tumor Association.