Multiple patient-specific tumor-associated antigens presented on MHC molecules (Neoantigens)

Multiple patient-specific tumor-associated antigens, commonly known as neoantigens, are unique peptides resulting from non-synonymous somatic mutations in a patient's tumor cells (Sahin & Türeci, 2018). These antigens are processed and presented on the cell surface by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, where they can be recognized by the host's T-cell receptors (Blass & Ott, 2021). Because these mutations are absent in healthy tissue, they serve as highly specific targets for immunotherapy, bypassing the limitations of central tolerance that affect shared tumor antigens (Finn, 2017). Therapeutic interventions, such as personalized mRNA vaccines or adoptive cell transfers, are designed to amplify the immune system's ability to detect these specific signatures (Ott et al., 2017). This personalized approach allows for a multi-targeted attack on the tumor, potentially reducing the likelihood of immune escape through clonal evolution. The efficacy of targeting these antigens is often linked to the tumor's mutational burden and the diversity of the patient's HLA repertoire.

Other names

NeoantigensTumor-specific antigensPatient-specific neoantigensMHC-presented peptidesTumor-associated antigensTSAsTAAsTumor-specific neoantigens (TSNAs)

Induction of a polyclonal T-cell response against unique tumor mutations presented on MHC molecules to facilitate targeted tumor cell lysis (Sahin & Türeci, 2018).