Personalized neoantigen vaccine prevents postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with vascular invasion

• DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01467-8
• Publication Date: 2021-12-13T19:02:43Z
• Authors: Zhixiong Cai; Xiaoping Su; Liman Qiu; Zhenli Li; Xiaolou Li; Xiuqing Dong; Fuqun Wei; Yang Zhou; Liuping Luo; Geng Chen; Hengkai Chen; Yingchao Wang; Yongyi Zeng; Xiaolong Liu
• Keywords: ELISPOT

Abstract Background Clinically, prophylactic anti-recurrence treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after radical surgery are extremely limited. Neoantigen based vaccine can generate robust anti-tumor immune response in several solid tumors but whether it could induce HCC and serve as a safe effective strategy preventing postoperative recurrence still remain largely unclear. Methods Personalized neoantigen was designed immunized 10 with high risk of prime-boost schedule. The safety were assessed through adverse events, tissue sequencing, ELISpot, TCR sequencing. clinical evaluated by recurrence-free survival (RFS) personalized circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) Results In the enrolled patients, no obvious events observed during vaccinations. Until deadline trial, 8 confirmed relapse imaging, other 2 remained relapse-free. From receiving first vaccination, median RFS 7.4 months. Among 7 received all planned vaccinations, 5 them demonstrated neoantigen-induced T cell responses have significantly longer than without responsive neoantigens or only prime vaccination propensity scores matching control ( p = 0.035). Moreover, tracking mutations ctDNA provide real-time evaluation follow up. Conclusion is proved safe, feasible anti-recurrence, its progression be sensitively monitored corresponding ctDNA, thus provided information individualized medicine HCC. Trial registration This study registered at Chinese Clinical Registry; Registration number: ChiCTR1900020990 .