Patient-specific neoantigen peptides presented on MHC class I (Neoantigen-MHC I)

Patient-specific neoantigen peptides presented on MHC class I represent a class of highly specific therapeutic targets derived from non-synonymous somatic mutations unique to an individual's tumor (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2021). In prostate cancer, these neoantigens are processed by the proteasome and loaded onto Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I molecules for presentation on the cell surface (Frontiers in Immunology, 2020). This presentation allows the immune system, specifically CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, to distinguish malignant cells from healthy tissue, as these sequences are not present in the normal genome (Science, 2019). Therapeutic strategies targeting these neoantigens include personalized mRNA or DNA vaccines and adoptive cell therapies, which aim to prime or expand the patient's own T-cell repertoire against these specific markers (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2022). While prostate cancer typically exhibits a lower mutational burden compared to other malignancies, the identification of high-affinity neoantigens remains a promising avenue for overcoming the immunosuppressive prostate tumor microenvironment (Nature Communications, 2023). Successful targeting requires sophisticated bioinformatics to predict peptide-MHC binding affinity and ensure the selected neoantigens are truly immunogenic (Cell, 2021).

Other names

Tumor-specific neoantigensTSAsNeoepitopesPersonalized cancer antigensMHC-I restricted neoantigens

Induction of tumor-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses through the recognition of unique peptide-MHC class I complexes by T-cell receptors (TCRs).