Tumor Cell-Derived Antigens for Cancer Immunotherapy

Tumor vaccines have emerged as a transformative strategy in cancer immunotherapy, demonstrating substantial clinical potential. However, the genetic heterogeneity of tumor cells often leads to immune escape, limiting the effectiveness of traditional therapies that rely on a single antigen. Tumor cell-derived antigens offer a significant advantage in this regard, as they represent the unique molecular profile of the tumor, allowing for a broader and more diverse activation of the immune system. This diversity enhances the ability to overcome immune escape mechanisms, increasing the effective tumor eradication and reducing the risk of relapse. This review systematically examines two major sources of antigens: exogenous antigens, including tumor cells, tumor lysates, tumor exosomes, and tumor cell membranes, and endogenous antigens, which arise from immunogenic cell death (ICD) and possess unique advantages in eliciting strong immune activation. This work investigates synergistic therapies aimed at boosting tumor immunogenicity and counteracting the immunosuppressive microenvironment. This work reviews recent advances and challenges in tumor cell-derived antigen strategies for immune activation, emphasizing their potential to overcome limitations and facilitate the clinical translation of tumor vaccines.