Tumor neoantigen and tumor-associated antigen peptides

Tumor neoantigen and tumor-associated antigen peptides displayed on enveloped viral particles represent a specialized cancer vaccine platform. Neoantigens are unique peptides resulting from tumor-specific mutations, while tumor-associated antigens are overexpressed proteins in malignant cells (National Cancer Institute, 2022). By engineering these peptides onto the surface or within the structure of enveloped viral particles, such as virus-like particles (VLPs) or attenuated viral vectors, the immune system is more effectively alerted to the presence of the tumor (VBI Vaccines, 2023). The viral envelope provides natural adjuvant properties and facilitates efficient uptake by antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells (Hookipa Pharma, 2024). This process leads to the activation and expansion of tumor-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, which can then infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and eliminate cancer cells (Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, 2021). This approach aims to overcome the low immunogenicity often associated with peptide-only vaccines by mimicking a viral infection to trigger a robust, durable immune response.

Other names

NeoantigensTumor-specific antigensTSAsTumor-associated antigensTAAseVLP-displayed antigensTumor neoantigen peptides and tumor antigen peptides displayed on enveloped viral particles

Induction of a targeted immune response by presenting tumor-specific or tumor-associated peptides via viral vectors or virus-like particles to activate cytotoxic T lymphocytes and helper T cells.