Tumor-specific neoantigen presented by major histocompatibility complex molecule

Tumor-specific neoantigen presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecule refers to a peptide antigen that arises from genetic or post-translational alterations unique to tumor cells, and is displayed on the cell surface in complex with an MHC molecule. These neoantigens are distinguished from normal self-antigens due to sequence changes resulting from somatic gene mutations (missense variants, gene fusions, indels, alternative splicing), chimeric RNAs, or aberrant post-translational modifications. Because they are not present in normal tissues, they are highly immunogenic and, when presented by MHC class I (to CD8+ T cells) or class II (to CD4+ T cells), can initiate a potent anti-tumor T cell response. Tumor-specific neoantigens are considered ideal therapeutic targets for personalized cancer vaccines and adoptive T cell therapies, as well as for predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Their immunogenicity depends on efficient processing, presentation by MHC alleles, and recognition by T cells. Despite therapeutic promise, challenges include accurate prediction, tumor heterogeneity, and immune evasion through antigen loss or MHC downregulation[1][2][3][4][5][6].

Other names

Tumor neoantigenTumor-specific antigen (TSA)NeoepitopeTumor-specific neoantigenNeoantigen

Induction of tumor-specific T cell cytotoxicity through presentation of neoantigens on tumor cells; Vaccine-mediated priming of the immune system against tumor neoantigens[1][2][3]; TCR-based therapies target T cells to specific neoantigen-MHC complexes