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Targeting Neoantigens for Personalised Immunotherapy

BioDrugs volume 32, pages 99–109 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

This review discusses the rapidly evolving field of immunotherapy research, focusing on the types of cancer antigens that can be recognised by the immune system and potential methods by which neoantigens can be exploited clinically to successfully target and clear tumour cells. Recent studies suggest that the likelihood of successful immunotherapeutic targeting of cancer will be reliant on immune response to neoantigens. This type of cancer-specific antigen arises from somatic variants that result in alteration of the expressed protein sequence. Massively parallel sequencing techniques now allow the rapid identification of these genomic mutations, and algorithms can be used to predict those that will be processed by the proteasome, bind to the transporter complex and encode peptides that bind strongly to individual MHC molecules. The emerging data from assessment of the immunogenicity of neoantigens suggests that only a minority of mutations will form targetable epitopes and therefore the potential for immunotherapeutic targeting will be greater in cancers with a higher frequency of protein-altering somatic variants. It is evident that neoantigens contribute to the success of some immunotherapeutic interventions and that there is significant scope for specific targeting of these antigens to develop new treatment approaches.

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Acknowledgements

This review brings together a large amount of work in a rapidly developing area in order to provide an overall picture of the current state of the field. As a result, there are recommendations throughout to review papers that focus in on a specific area, which will provide further details on those topics. I apologise to colleagues who may feel their work is inadequately cited, or that further details should have been provided, but for space and clarity this review could only use selected specific examples.

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    Antonia L. Pritchard

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ALP is supported by Highland and Island Enterprise, Scotland.

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ALP has no conflicts of interests to declare.

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Pritchard, A.L. Targeting Neoantigens for Personalised Immunotherapy. BioDrugs 32, 99–109 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40259-018-0267-4

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