DNA and mRNA Vaccines for Chronic Viral Infections and Cancer: Rationale, Mechanisms, and Progress

Simple Summary This review describes the rationale supporting the use of DNA and mRNA vaccines as immunotherapeutic vaccines for treating chronic viral infections and cancer. It specifically focuses on the immunological challenges for generating potent therapeutic responses when an infection or tumor are already established, then describes the immunologic capabilities of DNA and mRNA vaccines that may enable them to be potent enough for curing the infection or treating the cancer. Interest in the capabilities of nucleic acid vaccines, (DNA and mRNA vaccines) for both prophylactic and therapeutic uses have greatly increased following the successful deployment of two mRNA and, on a more limited scale, one DNA vaccine for COVID-19. In addition to targeting other pathogens for prophylactic vaccines, efforts are also being made towards using them for therapies for chronic infections and cancer. An examination of past and current successes for such therapies using other technologies with an emphasis on the immunological mechanisms will be provided followed by an assessment of the relevant characteristics of DNA and mRNA vaccines to predict their utility for therapies for chronic viral infections and cancer. Efforts and progress for these targets will be described.