What's next in cancer immunotherapy? - The promise and challenges of neoantigen vaccination

Alec J Redwood; Ian M Dick; Jenette Creaney; Bruce W S Robinson

doi:10.1080/2162402X.2022.2038403

What's next in cancer immunotherapy? - The promise and challenges of neoantigen vaccination

Oncoimmunology. 2022 Feb 13;11(1):2038403. doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2022.2038403. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Alec J Redwood^{1

2}, Ian M Dick^{1

2

3}, Jenette Creaney^{1

2

3

4}, Bruce W S Robinson^{1

2

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Respiratory Health, University of Western Australia, Perth,Australia.
² National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
³ School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
⁴ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia.
⁵ Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.

Abstract

The process of tumorigenesis leaves a series of indelible genetic changes in tumor cells, that when expressed, have the potential to be tumor-specific immune targets. Neoantigen vaccines that capitalize on this potential immunogenicity have shown efficacy in preclinical models and have now entered clinical trials. Here we discuss the status of personalized neoantigen vaccines and the current major challenges to this nascent field. In particular, we focus on the types of antigens that can be targeted by vaccination and on the role that preexisting immunosuppression, and in particular T-cell exhaustion, will play in the development of effective cancer vaccines.

Keywords: Neoantigen; immunotherapy; neoantigen vaccine; vaccine.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
Cancer Vaccines* / therapeutic use
Humans
Immunotherapy
Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Vaccination

Substances

Antigens, Neoplasm
Cancer Vaccines

Grants and funding

The authors were supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, The Insurance Commission of Western Australia, icare, The Sir Charles Gairdner Research Advisory Committee and the Cancer Council of Western Australia. The funding agencies had no role in the preparation of the manuscript nor the decision to submit the article for publication.