Patient-specific glioblastoma stem cell antigens

Patient-specific glioblastoma stem cell (GSC) antigens refer to a personalized array of proteins and peptides, including neoantigens and tumor-associated antigens, that are uniquely expressed by the self-renewing cell population driving glioblastoma growth (Lathia et al., 2015). These antigens are critical for therapeutic targeting because GSCs are primarily responsible for the high rates of recurrence and resistance to standard therapies like temozolomide and radiation. Personalized immunotherapy strategies, such as the autologous dendritic cell vaccine DCVax-L, utilize a patient's own tumor lysate to train the immune system to recognize these specific GSC markers (Liau et al., 2023). Additionally, neoantigen vaccines like NeoVax target specific mutations identified through high-throughput sequencing of the patient's tumor, aiming to induce a robust T-cell response (Keskin et al., 2019). The biological function of many GSC antigens, such as CD133 or SOX2, involves the maintenance of pluripotency and the promotion of invasive growth patterns (Singh et al., 2004). In the context of disease, these antigens facilitate immune evasion and allow the tumor to repopulate following initial treatment. A major challenge in targeting these antigens is the significant intratumoral heterogeneity of glioblastoma, which often results in antigen escape where sub-populations of cells not expressing the target antigen continue to proliferate. Safety concerns include the risk of neuro-inflammation and potential cross-reactivity with healthy neural stem cells. Despite these challenges, patient-specific GSC antigens remain a primary focus for developing next-generation precision oncology treatments for malignant gliomas.

Other names

Personalized glioblastoma neoantigensGSC-associated antigensAutologous glioblastoma antigensGlioblastoma stem cell-specific antigens

Induction of a patient-specific T-cell mediated immune response against glioblastoma stem cells through the presentation of autologous or neoantigenic peptides.