Patient-specific neoantigen peptide-major histocompatibility complex on autologous dendritic cells (NeoAg-MHC-DC)

Patient-specific neoantigen peptide-major histocompatibility complex on autologous dendritic cells represent a highly personalized form of cancer immunotherapy designed to trigger a precise immune response against a patient's unique tumor profile [Nature, 2021, doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03432-2]. This approach involves identifying unique somatic mutations (neoantigens) from a patient's tumor through whole-exome sequencing and then loading these synthetic peptides onto the patient's own harvested dendritic cells (DCs) [Science, 2015, doi:10.1126/science.aaa3828]. These DCs act as professional antigen-presenting cells, displaying the neoantigen-MHC complexes to the immune system to prime and expand neoantigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells [Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 2020, doi:10.1186/s13045-020-00953-7]. Once re-infused, these activated T cells can specifically recognize and eliminate tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue, as neoantigens are not expressed in normal cells [Frontiers in Immunology, 2018, doi:10.3389/fimmu.2018.01499]. This target is central to the development of next-generation cancer vaccines aimed at overcoming tumor immune evasion and providing long-lasting anti-tumor immunity [Cell, 2020, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.08.023]. Clinical applications are currently being explored in various solid tumors, including melanoma and glioblastoma, where traditional therapies often fail [ClinicalTrials.gov, 2023].

Other names

Neoantigen-pulsed dendritic cellsPersonalized neoantigen-presenting autologous dendritic cellsNeoantigen-loaded DC vaccineTumor-specific neoantigen-MHC complex

Induction of a tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response and helper T-cell response by presenting unique tumor-derived epitopes via MHC molecules on the surface of autologous dendritic cells [Science, 2015, doi:10.1126/science.aaa3828].