mRNA Covid shots may boost the effects of certain cancer treatments, study suggests

[lostincalifornia]

mRNA-based Covid vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna may have an unexpected benefit for cancer patients who undergo immunotherapy.

A new study suggests that these vaccines might boost the effects of immunotherapy drugs, perhaps by alerting the immune system and helping direct immune cells to attack tumors. That’s in addition to helping protect against Covid, which can be particularly important for cancer patients who can sometimes have weakened immune systems.

The study found that advanced cancer patients who received a Covid vaccine within 100 days before taking an immunotherapy drug during the pandemic lived longer than patients who did not, in a retrospective analysis. Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center presented the study at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin on Sunday.

The results are intriguing cancer immunologists and oncologists, who reacted with both excitement and caution.

https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/19/mrna-covid-shots-boost-cancer-immunotherapy-lung-cancer-melanoma/

[Johnny2X2X]

1. They're a miracle

Potentially the biggest breakthrough in medicine in 100 years.

My MIL is going through immunotherapy and chemo for stage 4 lung cancer right now, surprisingly, it's going very well and the tumors and lesions are shrinking. The doctors are shocked how well it's going. I wonder if the Covid boosters she's stayed up to date on are chipping in.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. Wow that is cool!

I’m gonna keep getting my Covid shots if not for Covid but those protective features. I don’t have cancer btw.

[mwmisses4289]

3. Wonder if that also happens for those who just recieved radiation treatment?