Circle RNA (circRNA) is a closed-loop nucleic acid resistant to exonuclease degradation. Their enhanced stability and potential for efficient protein expression through circRNA modification render them promising novel therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. In this study, we systematically investigated the antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities of circRNA vaccines in mice, as well as their effects on activating antigen-specific immune responses, through a meta-analysis. Subsequently, we further validated the immune-activating effects of circRNA using monocytes and T cells isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We found that circRNA induces the activation and maturation of dendritic cells, as well as the responses of CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. These findings demonstrate the potential of circRNA to exert significant effects in therapeutic cancer vaccines.
Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.