Tumor-specific public neoantigen presented by major histocompatibility complex class I molecule

A tumor-specific public neoantigen presented by a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule is a peptide derived from somatic mutations in cancer cells that is processed and displayed on the cell surface by MHC class I proteins. These neoantigens are "public" because they arise from recurrent, shared mutations found across multiple patients. When presented on MHC class I molecules, these peptides can be recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), enabling targeted immune responses against cancer cells. These antigens enable highly specific targeting of cancer while sparing normal tissue due to their absence in healthy proteomes. They represent one of the most promising classes for next-generation precision oncology therapeutics.

Binding and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes via TCR interaction