Autologous tumor-derived peptide repertoire

The autologous tumor-derived peptide repertoire refers to the unique collection of peptides, including neoantigens and tumor-associated antigens, that are specific to an individual patient's malignancy. These peptides are generated from mutated or overexpressed proteins within the tumor and are presented on the cell surface by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules [1, 2]. In therapeutic contexts, this repertoire is utilized to develop personalized cancer vaccines, such as heat shock protein-peptide complexes or synthetic neoantigen vaccines, designed to prime the patient's immune system [3]. By targeting the specific 'fingerprint' of the tumor, these therapies aim to induce a robust, polyvalent T-cell response that can distinguish between cancerous and healthy cells [4]. This approach is particularly relevant in precision oncology, as it addresses the significant genetic heterogeneity observed between different patients' tumors [2]. However, the clinical application of this target requires sophisticated genomic sequencing and rapid, patient-specific manufacturing processes [4]. (Sources: [1] Parmiani G, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2004; [2] Sahin U, et al. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2018; [3] Ott PA, et al. Nature. 2017; [4] Blass E, et al. Nat Rev Immunol. 2021).

Other names

NeoantigensTumor-specific antigens (TSAs)Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs)Autologous tumor-derived peptidesPersonalized cancer antigensTumor-associated peptides (TUMAPs)

Induction of a polyclonal T-cell mediated immune response by presenting a personalized array of patient-specific tumor antigens to the immune system, typically via MHC molecules, to facilitate the targeted destruction of malignant cells.