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Boosting Antitumor Immunity with an Expanded Neoepitope Landscape
Remco Nagel1, Abhijeet Pataskar1, Julien Champagne1
1Division of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
Immune-checkpoint blockade therapy has been successfully applied to many cancers, particularly tumors that harbor a high mutational burden and consequently express a high abundance of neoantigens. However, novel approaches are needed to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for treating tumors that lack a high load of classic genetically derived neoantigens. Recent discoveries of broad classes of nongenetically encoded and inducible neoepitopes open up new avenues for therapeutic development to enhance sensitivity to immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss recent work on neoantigen discovery, with an emphasis on novel classes of noncanonical neoepitopes.
Insights
Novel immunotherapy strategies are needed for cancers with low neoantigen loads. This review explores noncanonical neoepitopes to enhance cancer immunotherapy efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Immune-checkpoint blockade therapy is effective for cancers with high mutational burden and neoantigens.
- Tumors with low neoantigen expression remain a challenge for current immunotherapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in neoantigen discovery.
- To highlight novel classes of noncanonical neoepitopes for therapeutic development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on neoantigen discovery.
- Focus on non-genetically encoded and inducible neoepitopes.
Main Results:
- Identification of novel classes of noncanonical neoepitopes.
- Exploration of new therapeutic avenues to enhance immunotherapy sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Noncanonical neoepitopes offer promising strategies to overcome limitations of current cancer immunotherapies.
- Further research into these neoepitopes can improve treatment outcomes for a broader range of cancer patients.
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