Cancer Biology & Therapy

Neoantigens in Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy

Neoantigens, unique peptide sequences derived primarily from tumor-specific mutations, have emerged as pivotal targets in cancer immunology and immunotherapy. These antigens, absent in normal tissues, present an opportunity to harness the immune system’s natural surveillance mechanisms against malignant cells. The selective expression of neoantigens on tumor cells underlies the efficacy of FDA-approved immune checkpoint blockade and creates opportunities for new cancer treatments, enabling highly specific immune responses that minimize off-target effects and improve therapeutic efficacy. As technologies like next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics advance, neoantigen identification and validation continue to improve, fueling innovations in cancer vaccine development, adoptive cell therapies, immune checkpoint blockade strategies and more.

The clinical significance of neoantigens lies in their potential to reshape the cancer treatment landscape. By targeting neoantigens, researchers and clinicians can pursue therapies that are more precise, less toxic, and tailored to individual patient profiles. Neoantigen-focused therapies have shown promise in generating robust immune responses with durable anti-tumor effects in various malignancies. Understanding the molecular biology of neoantigens, their presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, and their ability to engage T-cell receptors (TCRs) is essential for designing next-generation therapies that address tumor heterogeneity, escape mechanisms, and resistance to conventional treatments. This collection aims to spotlight advances that can drive our mechanistic understating and advance therapies from experimental stages to clinical applications, addressing both scientific and clinical hurdles.

We invite submissions that explore various aspects of neoantigen research, including but not limited to neoantigen discovery and validation, predictive modeling, immune profiling, and translational approaches in vaccine development, T-cell receptor engineering, and neoantigen-based CAR-T cell therapies. Additionally, studies addressing immune escape, biomarkers for response, and case studies of neoantigen-targeting strategies are encouraged. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspective pieces that expand the understanding of neoantigens in cancer immunology and treatment and contribute to the development of novel, more effective immunotherapies.

Guest Advisor Dr. Adam Snook is  a cancer immunologist and translational researcher focused on developing groundbreaking cancer immunotherapies. He is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology, Physiology, & Cancer Biology and Microbiology & Immunology at Thomas Jefferson University. He is co-leader of the Immune Cell Regulation and Targeting (IRT) Program of the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University. His research has led to successful phase 1 and 2 clinical trials examining cancer vaccines and CAR-T cell therapies, as well as innovative strategies for universal CAR-T cell therapies, cell therapies for non-cancer indications, and more. His research findings are extensively published in high-impact journals, and he was identified as the most prolific colorectal cancer immunotherapy researcher of the last decade worldwide.

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­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review. The deadline for submission is September 5, 2025.

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

For more information about submission or discounts, please contact Commissioning Editor Cassie Houtz at Cassie.Houtz@taylorandfrancis.com