Tumor-specific neoantigen (NeoAg) (NeoAg)

Tumor-specific neoantigens (NeoAgs) are unique peptides resulting from non-synonymous somatic mutations, such as point mutations, insertions, or deletions, within a patient's tumor cells (Schumacher & Schreiber, 2015). These antigens are processed and presented on the cell surface by Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules, where they can be recognized as "non-self" by the T-cell receptors (TCRs) of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) (Tran et al., 2014). Because neoantigens are not expressed in healthy tissues, they represent ideal targets for precision immunotherapy, offering high specificity and reduced risk of off-target toxicity compared to shared tumor-associated antigens (Blass & Ott, 2021). Therapeutic strategies targeting neoantigens include personalized mRNA or peptide vaccines, as well as adoptive cell transfer of neoantigen-specific TILs or TCR-engineered T-cells (Rosenberg & Restifo, 2015). These approaches aim to stimulate or provide a robust cytotoxic T-cell response directed specifically at the tumor's unique mutational profile (Ott et al., 2017). However, the clinical application of neoantigen-based therapies is complex, requiring advanced genomic sequencing, predictive algorithms for epitope selection, and bespoke manufacturing for each individual patient.

Other names

NeoepitopeTumor-specific antigen (TSA)Mutation-derived antigenPatient-specific neoantigenTumor-associated neoantigen

Induction of a cytotoxic T-cell response through the recognition of mutation-derived peptides presented on MHC molecules by T-cell receptors (TCRs).