Patient-specific tumor-associated antigens and neoantigens derived from autologous tumor lysate (ATL-antigens)

Patient-specific tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and neoantigens derived from autologous tumor lysate constitute a personalized library of immunogenic targets used in cancer immunotherapy. These antigens are harvested directly from a patient's own tumor tissue, capturing the full spectrum of mutations (neoantigens) and overexpressed proteins (TAAs) unique to that individual's disease (Liau et al., 2023, JAMA Oncology). By utilizing the entire lysate, the immune system is exposed to multiple targets simultaneously, which reduces the likelihood of tumor escape via antigen loss—a common failure in single-antigen therapies (Srivatsan et al., 2014, Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer). These antigens are typically processed and presented to the immune system via dendritic cells or as part of whole-cell vaccines to stimulate a polyclonal T-cell response (Senzer et al., 2012, Molecular Therapy). This approach is currently being utilized in clinical trials for aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma, melanoma, and ovarian cancer (Prins et al., 2011, Neurosurgery). The therapeutic objective is to induce a durable, specific immune memory that can recognize and eliminate residual or metastatic tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue.

Other names

Autologous tumor antigensTumor-associated antigens (TAAs)Tumor-specific neoantigensAutologous tumor lysate (ATL)Patient-specific tumor antigens

Stimulation of a multi-antigenic, patient-specific T-cell response by presenting autologous tumor-derived peptides to the immune system, often via dendritic cell priming or adjuvant-assisted vaccination, to induce cytotoxic T-lymphocyte mediated destruction of tumor cells.