肿瘤疫苗的底层逻辑和研发进展

Chen Shuqing (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China)

关键词:  肿瘤疫苗，新生抗原，基因测序，人工智能

Key words:  tumor  vaccine, neoantigen, gene  sequencing, artificial  intelligence

摘要:

肿瘤疫苗研究多年,一直没有关键性突破,原因是对肿瘤抗原的认识不够。肿瘤不同于病毒细菌,其抗原性来源于基因突变形成的新生抗原,这些抗原不受中枢免疫耐受限制,有能力激活免疫响应。但是,基因突变是个性化的,不同患者的肿瘤拥有不同的新生抗原,必须对每一个患者进行分析测定,为每一个患者定制一个化学结构不同的疫苗。直到基因测序成本的下降和人工智能分析技术建立,新生抗原的分析鉴定技术才得以发展。人类对肿瘤疫苗的这个底层逻辑的新认识,迅速推动了肿瘤疫苗在全世界范围的研发。

Abstract:

Tumor vaccines have been developed for many years, but there has been no significant breakthrough due to insufficient understanding of tumor antigens. Tumors are different from viruses and bacteria, and their antigenicity comes from neoantigens formed by gene mutations. These antigens are not restricted by central immune tolerance and have the ability to activate immune responses. However, genetic mutations are personalized, and tumors from different patients have different neoantigens. It is necessary to analyze each patient, and customize a vaccine for each patient. It was not until the cost of gene sequencing decreased and artificial intelligence analysis technology was established that the analysis and identification technology for neoantigens was able to develop. The new understanding of the underlying logic of tumor vaccines has rapidly driven the development of tumor vaccines worldwide.