The Cancer Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (CEDAR): current capabilities and future directions

Cancer epitopes, the molecular structures recognized by T and B cells at the tumor interface, are central to understanding antitumor immunity and developing immunotherapies. Yet despite the rapid growth of cancer immunology data, a comprehensive, continuously updated, and accessible resource for cancer epitope data has been lacking. The Cancer Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (CEDAR, cedar.iedb.org) was established in 2021 to fill this gap, providing curated experimental epitope data alongside a suite of cancer-specific computational tools for epitope prediction and analysis. Built on the validated infrastructure of the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), CEDAR integrates cancer epitope data with biological, immunological, and clinical context, enabling researchers to explore immune recognition of tumors, identify candidate targets for immunotherapy, and benchmark prediction methods. Here we describe CEDAR's current capabilities, report on progress in curation, database development, and tool availability, and outline the opportunities and challenges ahead for expanding its scope and utility to the cancer research community.