neoantigen
Pronunciation: NEE-oh-AN-ti-jen
A new protein fragment created by tumor mutations that can be recognized by the immune system.
Full Definition
Neoantigens are novel protein sequences generated by tumor-specific mutations that are not present in normal cells, making them potential targets for immune recognition. These mutant proteins are processed and presented on the tumor cell surface by MHC molecules, where they can be recognized as foreign by T cells. The presence and quality of neoantigens influence tumor immunogenicity and response to immunotherapy, with tumors harboring more neoantigens generally showing better responses to checkpoint inhibitors and being candidates for personalized cancer vaccines.
Usage
Usage note: Write as one word; distinguish from broader category of tumor antigens.
In Context
- "The patient's tumor harbored 47 predicted neoantigens suitable for personalized vaccine development." — Genomic analysis report
- "Neoantigen load correlates with response to PD-1 blockade across multiple cancer types." — Biomarker research paper