Tumor-Derived Antigenic Peptides as Potential Cancer Vaccines

Abstract

Peptide antigens derived from tumors have been observed to elicit protective immune responses, categorized as either tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or tumor-specific antigens (TSAs). Subunit cancer vaccines incorporating these antigens have shown promise in inducing protective immune responses, leading to cancer prevention or eradication. Over recent years, peptide-based cancer vaccines have gained popularity as a treatment modality and are often combined with other forms of cancer therapy. Several clinical trials have explored the safety and efficacy of peptide-based cancer vaccines, with promising outcomes. Advancements in techniques such as whole-exome sequencing, next-generation sequencing, and in silico methods have facilitated the identification of antigens, making it increasingly feasible. Furthermore, the development of novel delivery methods and a deeper understanding of tumor immune evasion mechanisms have heightened the interest in these vaccines among researchers. This article provides an overview of novel insights regarding advancements in the field of peptide-based vaccines as a promising therapeutic avenue for cancer treatment. It summarizes existing computational methods for tumor neoantigen prediction, ongoing clinical trials involving peptide-based cancer vaccines, and recent studies on human vaccination experiments.

Keywords: antigen; bioinformatics; cancer; immunogenicity; vaccine.

Figure 1

Illustration of T-cell recognition. APC presents the antigen to the T cell in a complex with an MHC molecule. TCR of the T cell recognizes the complex. Other co-stimulatory signals also take part in the process. This figure was produced with the assistance of Servier Medical Art (https://smart.servier.com).

Figure 2

Neoantigen discovery and selection for peptide-based cancer vaccines. 1. Obtaining tumor tissue via biopsy. 2. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) or RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on tumor DNA or RNA to identify mutations. 3. Neoantigen prediction and prioritization through in silico methods. 4. Experimental validation of predicted neoantigens. 5. The most promising neoantigens are included in vaccine preparations and carried on to preclinical and clinical trials. The figure was produced with the assistance of Servier Medical Art (https://smart.servier.com).