DNA prime and peptide boost immunization elicits robust neoantigen-specific CD8 ⁺ T cell responses and therapeutic protection in mouse tumor models.

ABSTRACT: Therapeutic immunization against tumor neoantigens has the potential to induce potent and highly selective CD8⁺ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Consequently, immunization strategies that generate robust neoantigen-specific T-cell responses are needed. Here, we tested homologous and heterologous DNA- and peptide-based immunization strategies using a neoantigen model. We observed that priming with DNA followed by peptide boost immunization elicited the strongest CD8⁺ T-cell responses, which exhibited effector and memory precursor phenotypes and led to the formation of circulating and skin-resident memory T cells. In prophylactic settings, this immunization regimen delayed the growth of B16F10 melanoma and rejected EL4 lymphoma cells expressing a self-antigen. In a t

SUBMITTER: Morgado-Caceres P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12802984 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature