# Using mRNA to Teach the Body to Fight Prostate Cancer > This patent describes an active composition, often a vaccine, that uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct a mammal's cells to produce specific prostate cancer proteins, thereby training the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells. - **Patent:** US 12048738 - **Original title:** Composition for treating prostate cancer (PCa) - **Owner:** Curevac SE - **Granted:** 2024 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, oncology, gene_editing, immunotherapy ## What it does The patent describes an "active (immunostimulatory) composition" designed to treat prostate cancer. This composition contains at least one RNA, specifically an mRNA, that carries instructions for making specific prostate cancer proteins, called antigens. For example, Claim 1 describes an isolated mRNA encoding Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA). When this mRNA is introduced into a mammal, the body's cells use these instructions to produce the PSA protein. The immune system then recognizes this PSA protein as foreign and learns to attack cells that produce it, such as prostate cancer cells. Claim 16 further describes a composition with at least two different RNAs: one for PSA and another for a different prostate cancer antigen like PSMA, PSCA, or STEAP. This combination aims to create a stronger, more targeted immune response against the cancer. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover treatments for prostate cancer that do not involve an mRNA-based immunostimulatory composition. - Does not cover mRNA compositions encoding only a single antigen other than PSA (e.g., an mRNA encoding only PSMA without PSA, as per Claim 16). - Does not cover compositions using DNA or other types of RNA (like siRNA or tRNA) to stimulate an immune response. - Does not cover mRNA compositions that encode antigens not selected from PSA, PSMA, PSCA, or STEAP for prostate cancer treatment. - Does not cover methods of treatment that do not involve administering an effective amount of the specified mRNA or composition. ## The clever bit The clever bit is using mRNA to deliver instructions for multiple specific prostate cancer antigens (like PSA and PSMA) simultaneously. This multi-antigen approach aims to make the immune response broader and more effective, reducing the chance of cancer cells escaping detection by changing just one antigen. ## Real-world examples 1. Moderna's mRNA cancer vaccine candidates 2. BioNTech's mRNA cancer vaccine candidates 3. CureVac's own mRNA therapeutic programs 4. Other experimental mRNA-based immunotherapies for various cancers ## Why it matters This patent is significant because it applies mRNA technology, which gained prominence with COVID-19 vaccines, to cancer treatment. Prostate cancer is a common cancer, and current treatments can have side effects. An mRNA-based approach aims to train the body's own immune system to specifically target and destroy cancer cells, potentially offering a more precise and less toxic treatment option. CureVac SE, the assignee, is a key player in mRNA therapeutics, and this patent highlights their work in oncology. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Using mRNA to Teach the Body to Fight Prostate Cancer cover? This patent describes an active composition, often a vaccine, that uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct a mammal's cells to produce specific prostate cancer proteins, thereby training the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells. ### Who owns patent US 12048738? Curevac SE owns this patent, granted in 2024. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on August 22, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent is significant because it applies mRNA technology, which gained prominence with COVID-19 vaccines, to cancer treatment. Prostate cancer is a common cancer, and current treatments can have side effects. An mRNA-based approach aims to train the body's own immune system to specifically target and destroy cancer cells, potentially offering a more precise and less toxic treatment option. CureVac SE, the assignee, is a key player in mRNA therapeutics, and this patent highlights their work in oncology. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover treatments for prostate cancer that do not involve an mRNA-based immunostimulatory composition. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12048738/composition-for-treating-prostate-cancer-pca **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12048738 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How an mRNA Vaccine Targets Prostate Cancer with Six Antigens](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160166668/composition-and-vaccine-for-treating-prostate-cancer) — This patent describes an mRNA vaccine designed to treat prostate cancer by delivering genetic instructions for a specific combination of six prostate-related proteins, teaching the body to fight the cancer. - [Using Two Specific RNAs to Teach the Body to Fight Lung Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20220096616/composition-for-treating-lung-cancer-particularly-of-non-small-lung-cancers-nscl) — This patent describes an active composition containing two specific messenger RNAs, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-A3, designed to stimulate an immune response in a mammal to treat lung cancer, especially non-small cell lung cancers. - [How an mRNA Vaccine for Lung Cancer Teaches the Immune System to Fight](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20160168227/composition-and-vaccine-for-treating-lung-cancer) — This patent describes a specific mRNA vaccine designed to treat lung cancer by instructing the body's cells to produce six distinct tumor proteins, thereby training the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. - [How Genentech Created Antibodies to Target Prostate Cancer Cells](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6824780/avastin-dosing) — A patent describing specific antibodies that latch onto and kill cancer cells expressing the PSCA protein, effectively turning the body's immune-targeting tools into cancer-fighting weapons. - [How a Specific Peptide Boosts the Immune System Against Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11542303/peptides-and-combination-thereof-for-use-in-the-immunotherapy-against-cancers) — This patent describes a specific peptide sequence, KESDGFHRF, combined with immune-boosting substances and a safe delivery method, for use in treating cancer through immunotherapy.