American scientists have transformed immune memory developed against the COVID-19 virus into a new approach for fighting cancer tumors. The technology called “PROTEXI”, developed by researchers from Celloram Inc., Cleveland University Hospitals, and Case Western Reserve University, uses viral protection already present in millions of people’s bodies to directly target and destroy cancer cells.

Normally, cancer cells are able to hide from the immune system. To overcome this immune evasion mechanism, scientists used a specially personalized dendritic vaccine. During the research, fragments of a patient’s tumor were combined with the coronavirus spike protein and introduced into immune cells. The familiar viral protein quickly activates immune memory and instructs helper cells to directly attack cancer tumors.

In laboratory mouse studies, the platform demonstrated high effectiveness against melanoma and breast cancer. The vaccine not only reduced tumor size but also created long-lasting immune memory that may help prevent the risk of cancer recurrence.

Experts are currently preparing to test this technology in human clinical trials. The first trials are planned for patients with sarcoma, a severe and difficult-to-treat form of cancer. Unlike conventional vaccines, the new method relies on an immune mechanism that billions of people already possess, potentially making future cancer treatments more accessible.