Neoantigen identification and TCR-T therapy development for solid tumors: current advances and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Engineered T cell receptor T cells (TCR-T) are a promising cancer therapy for solid tumors due to selective tumor cell killing and high safety.
• Current TCR-T therapies often target tumor-associated antigens, which can lead to off-target effects and patient heterogeneity issues.
• Neoantigens, arising from tumor-specific genomic alterations, offer superior specificity and represent a valuable therapeutic target.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review antigen classifications, focusing on neoantigens for TCR-T therapy.
• To explore strategies for identifying and validating neoantigens.
• To assess the therapeutic effectiveness of TCR-T targeting neoantigens and discuss challenges and solutions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of antigen classifications and targeting strategies.
• Analysis of studies on TCR-T and other immunotherapies targeting neoantigens.
• Discussion of challenges and potential solutions in TCR-T therapy.

Main Results:

• Neoantigens provide a more specific target for TCR-T therapy compared to tumor-associated antigens.
• Identification and validation strategies for neoantigens are crucial for therapeutic development.
• TCR-T therapy targeting neoantigens shows potential but faces challenges.

Conclusions:

• Targeting neoantigens with TCR-T cells is a promising direction for precision cancer medicine.
• Further research into neoantigen identification, validation, and overcoming therapeutic challenges is needed.
• This approach holds potential for developing more effective and personalized cancer treatments.