Patient-specific tumor neoantigen-MHC complex on autologous dendritic cells (NeoAg-DC vaccine)

Patient-specific tumor neoantigen peptides presented on MHC class I and class II on autologous dendritic cells represent a personalized immunotherapy target designed to elicit a robust, tumor-specific T-cell response. These neoantigens arise from somatic mutations unique to an individual's tumor, making them ideal targets as they are not expressed in healthy tissues, thereby minimizing off-target toxicity (Sahin & Türeci, 2018, Science). In this therapeutic approach, autologous dendritic cells are harvested from the patient, loaded with these synthetic neoantigen peptides or mRNA, and re-infused to act as professional antigen-presenting cells (Hu et al., 2021, Vaccines). Once re-infused, these cells present the neoantigens via Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules to naive T cells in the lymph nodes. MHC class I presentation activates CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, while MHC class II presentation recruits CD4+ helper T cells, creating a coordinated attack against the malignancy (Ott et al., 2017, Nature). This target is particularly relevant for "cold" tumors that lack natural inflammation, as it bypasses the tumor's ability to hide from the immune system. Clinical applications often combine this strategy with immune checkpoint inhibitors to prevent the exhaustion of the newly generated T-cell population (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2020).

Other names

Personalized neoantigen-pulsed dendritic cellsAutologous neoantigen-loaded dendritic cell vaccineNeoantigen-MHC class I/II complexPersonalized cancer vaccine (PCV) dendritic cell platform

Priming and expansion of patient-specific, neoantigen-reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes through professional antigen presentation by autologous dendritic cells.