Open AccessPersonalized cancer vaccination in head and neck cancer
Author(s) -
Shibata Hirofumi,
Zhou Liye,
Xu Na,
Egloff Ann Marie,
Uppaluri Ravindra
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/cas.14784
Subject(s) - head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , cancer , immunotherapy , medicine , antigen , vaccination , head and neck cancer , cancer vaccine , cancer immunotherapy , immunology , somatic cell , immune system , cancer research , oncology , biology , gene , genetics
Cancer is characterized by an accumulation of somatic mutations that represent a source of neoantigens for targeting by antigen‐specific T cells. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a relatively high mutation burden across all cancer types, and cellular immunity to neoantigens likely plays a key role in HNSCC clinical outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have brought new treatment options and hopes to patients with recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC. However, many patients do not benefit from CPI therapies, highlighting the need for novel immunotherapy or combinatorial strategies. One such approach is personalized cancer vaccination targeting tumor‐associated antigens and tumor‐specific antigens, either as single agents or in combination with other therapies. Recent advances in next‐generation genomic sequencing technologies and computational algorithms have enabled efficient identification of somatic mutation‐derived neoantigens and are anticipated to facilitate the development of cancer vaccine strategies. Here, we review cancer vaccine approaches against HNSCC, including fundamental mechanisms of a cancer vaccine, considerations for selecting appropriate antigens, and combination therapies.