Neoantigen T Cell Therapy with Neoantigen Vaccination as a Combination Immunotherapy Against Cancer

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a breakthrough form of cancer immunotherapy that utilizes autologous, antitumor T cells to attack tumors through recognition of tumor-specific mutations, or neoantigens. A major hurdle in the development of ACT is the exhausted phenotype exhibited by many neoantigen-specific T cells, which limits their efficacy and prevents a sustained immune response. 
Researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have developed a combination immunotherapy to rescue the function of exhausted, neoantigen-specific T cells and, thus, enhance ACT. The method involves concurrent administration of neoantigen-specific T cells alongside a vaccine targeting the same neoantigens. The antitumor effect of this combination immunotherapy is superior to that mediated by the vaccine or by ACT alone, as measured in vivo by overall survival and tumor regression. Patient T cells genetically engineered with a neoantigen-specific T-cell receptor (TCR) can also be synergistically enhanced when used alongside a vaccine targeting the same antigen in this combination immunotherapy. This combined immunotherapy approach has broad therapeutic potential in a wide range of metastatic cancers, particularly those that are not responsive to traditional treatment methods.
The NCI seeks parties interested in research co-development and/or licensing of this combination immunotherapy approach of neoantigen-specific T cells administered alongside a neoantigen-targeting vaccine to enhance ACT and treat cancer.