1
Biopsy
A biopsy of a patient’s tumour is sent to a lab, where its genetic material is sequenced to identify mutations not present in healthy cells
Tumour
Cancerous
mutations
2
3
Selection
Instruction
An algorithm identifies which mutations are driving the cancer’s growth and are likely to trigger the immune system
A molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA) is created containing instructions for making antigens that will cause an immune response
4
Injection
Once injected, the mRNA is translated into protein pieces identical to those found on tumour cells. Immune cells encounter these and destroy cancer cells carrying the same proteins
Immune cell
Mutation cell
1
Biopsy
Cancerous
mutations
Tumour
A biopsy of a patient’s tumour is sent to a lab, where its genetic material is sequenced to identify mutations not present in healthy cells
2
3
Selection
Instruction
An algorithm identifies which mutations are driving the cancer’s growth and are likely to trigger the immune system
A molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA) is created containing instructions for making antigens that will cause an immune response
4
Injection
Mutation cell
Immune cell
Once injected, the mRNA is translated into protein pieces identical to those found on tumour cells. Immune cells encounter these and destroy cancer cells carrying the same proteins