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Review
. 2018 Jul;39(7):536-548.
doi: 10.1016/j.it.2018.04.005. Epub 2018 May 8.

Update on Tumor Neoantigens and Their Utility: Why It Is Good to Be Different

Chung-Han Lee  1 , Roman Yelensky  2 , Karin Jooss  2 , Timothy A Chan  3
Affiliations
Review

Update on Tumor Neoantigens and Their Utility: Why It Is Good to Be Different

Chung-Han Lee et al. Trends Immunol. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Antitumor rejection by the immune system is a complex process that is regulated by several factors. Among these factors are the quality and quantity of mutational events that occur in cancer cells. Perhaps one of the most important types of mutations that influence antitumor immunity is the neoantigen, that is, a non-self-antigen that arises as a result of somatic mutation. Recent work has demonstrated that neoantigens hold significant promise for developing new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Therapeutic targeting of neoantigens is important for achieving benefit following therapy with immune checkpoint blockade agents or for cancer vaccines targeting mutations. Here, we review our understanding of neoantigens and discuss new developments in the quest to use them in cancer immunotherapy.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Tumor mutational load, neoantigen generation, and therapeutic efficacy.
Tumor mutational load is shown in various tumor types. Likelihood of neoantigen generation is shown along the right axis. Green boxes show some tumor types that are associated with significant response rates with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Tumors that are generated by genotoxins (UV, smoking) are noted. Adopted from Lawrence et al. Nature (2013).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Representative tools and workflow for neoantigen prediction.
Diagram shows commonly used tools for neoantigen prediction. Tool name and references are listed in the table below the diagram. TSNA, tumor-specific neoantigen.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Cancer vaccines, checkpoint blockade, and immune activation.
Top panel shows the effects of combined vaccine and immune checkpoint blockade therapy on T cell activity. Bottom panel displays the critical locations and immune activities that need to be enhanced in order to elicit long-term anti-tumor immunity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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