Scientists from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) have developed a personalized cancer vaccine for each patient using artificial intelligence (AI).
In cancer vaccine development, researchers usually focus on “T-cells” because they are the cells that attack cancer. However, the problem is that T-cells alone have limitations in remembering and attacking cancer cells continuously over the long term.
The research team at KAIST focused their study on B-cells that recognize unique markers (neoantigens) of cancer cells in the body and produce antibodies. These. play a role in storing cancer information in the body. They store “memory” for cancer cells and continuously spread it throughout the body’s immune system. In this way, the body prevents cancer and stops it from recurring.
The AI model used predicts the extent to which cancer cells and B-cells will interact. Therefore, the most effective neoantigen that can stimulate B-cells will be personalized for each patient. Each cancer vaccine developed will have a specific memory to fight cancer in the recipient’s body.
The capabilities of this AI-assisted personalized cancer vaccine have only been proven in animal experiments at this time. Clinical trials on human cells will be conducted by 2027.
