Tumor-associated antigen and tumor-specific antigen (TAA/TSA)

Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) are molecular markers expressed by cancer cells that serve as the primary targets for immune recognition [1]. TAAs are self-antigens that are overexpressed or abnormally expressed in tumors, such as HER2 or MAGE-A3, whereas TSAs (neoantigens) are unique to the tumor and result from somatic mutations [2]. In dendritic cell (DC) vaccination, these antigens are loaded onto or expressed by DCs, which then process and present them via Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules to naive T cells [3]. This presentation, accompanied by co-stimulatory signals, activates and expands populations of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that can circulate and eliminate tumor cells [4]. While this approach aims to induce a specific and durable anti-tumor immune response, challenges include the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and the risk of autoimmunity if the targeted TAAs are also present on healthy tissues [5]. Sources: [1] National Cancer Institute (NCI) Dictionary of Cancer Terms. [2] "Neoantigens in cancer immunotherapy," Science, 2015. [3] "Dendritic cell-based cancer vaccines," Frontiers in Immunology, 2021. [4] "MHC Class I Antigen Presentation," StatPearls, 2023. [5] "Safety and efficacy of dendritic cell vaccines," Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 2022.

Other names

Tumor antigensNeoantigensCancer-testis antigensOncofetal antigensMHC-peptide complex

Dendritic cell-mediated presentation of tumor antigens on MHC molecules to activate antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes.