Multiple patient-specific tumor-associated antigens and neoantigens

This target profile represents a personalized collection of proteins and peptides unique to an individual patient's tumor, rather than a single conserved molecular entity. It encompasses both tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), which are self-antigens overexpressed or aberrantly expressed in malignant cells, and neoantigens, which are novel peptides resulting from somatic mutations (Sahin & Türeci, Science 2018). These antigens are identified using genomic sequencing and bioinformatics to predict which mutated sequences will be most effectively presented by the patient's specific Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules (Schumacher & Schreiber, Science 2015). Therapeutic strategies targeting these antigens, such as mRNA-based vaccines or cell therapies, aim to stimulate a robust, poly-specific T-cell response to eliminate tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. By addressing multiple antigens simultaneously, these therapies seek to mitigate the risk of tumor immune escape caused by clonal evolution and heterogeneity (Blass & Ott, Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2021). This approach is currently a major focus in the development of bespoke cancer immunotherapies for various solid tumors, including melanoma and lung cancer.

Other names

Personalized tumor antigensNeoepitopesTumor-specific antigens (TSA)Tumor-associated antigens (TAA)Mutation-derived antigensPersonalized neoantigens

Induction of a polyclonal T-cell response against a customized set of tumor-specific epitopes