Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a new immunotherapy target, known as a cryptic antigen, which could play a significant role in enhancing the immune system's ability to combat ovarian cancer tumors. This discovery was detailed in a study published in Science Advances.
Cryptic antigens are parts of proteins called epitopes that are typically hidden from the immune system but may be present in tumor cells. "These findings underscore the need to look at alternate sources of target antigens for ovarian cancer," stated Marion R. Curtis, Ph.D., senior associate consultant in immunology at Mayo Clinic and senior author of the study.
Dr. Curtis emphasized the importance of identifying tumor-associated antigens recognized by T cells for successful immunotherapeutic approaches against ovarian cancer. T cells are essential components of the adaptive immune system, playing crucial roles in recognizing and responding to specific targets.
The research team used multi-omics approaches to characterize tumor antigens from ovarian cancer, assessing their potential to elicit an immune response. Multi-omics involves analyzing multiple biological data sets like genome and proteome to understand disease mechanisms better.
Previous studies have concentrated on neoantigens, newly formed antigens rarely found in ovarian cancer samples, making them less viable targets. While targeted immunotherapies have succeeded with various cancers, they offer limited benefits for ovarian cancer patients.
Researchers plan to explore cryptic antigens further for developing new treatments such as vaccines or immunotherapies aimed at more effectively targeting tumors. These methods will undergo testing in laboratory models and clinical trials to ensure safety and efficacy.
Future research will involve larger-scale studies to assess cryptic antigen expression across different tumor types and its correlation with patient responses to immunotherapy. These efforts could lead to developing broader-reaching immunotherapies for other cancers currently lacking effective treatments.
For more details on authorship, disclosures, and funding, refer to the complete study review.
