International Journal of Clinical Case Reports 2024, Vol.14, No.3, 132-143 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijccr 132 Research Report Open Access Peptide-Based Vaccines for Oral Cancer: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Outcomes Wei Xu1, Jianhui Li 2 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: jianhui.li@jicat.org International Journal of Clinical Case Reports 2024, Vol.14, No.3 doi: 10.5376/ijccr.2024.14.0015 Received: 23 Apr., 2024 Accepted: 28 May, 2024 Published: 07 Jun., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Xu and Li, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Xu W., and Li J.H., 2024, Peptide-based vaccines for oral cancer: mechanisms of action and clinical outcomes, International Journal of Clinical Case Reports, 14(3): 132-143 (doi: 10.5376/ijccr.2024.14.0015) Abstract Peptide-based vaccines have emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of oral cancer, leveraging the ability to elicit robust anti-tumor immune responses. These vaccines primarily target tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) to stimulate CD8+cytotoxic T cells and CD4+helper T cells, thereby enhancing the body's immune response against cancer cells. Despite their potential, the clinical efficacy of peptide-based vaccines has been limited due to factors such as insufficient immune cell infiltration and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Recent advancements have focused on optimizing peptide sequences, incorporating potent adjuvants, and employing combinatorial therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors to improve clinical outcomes. Personalized peptide vaccines, designed based on individual tumor neoantigens, represent a significant advancement, offering tailored immunotherapy with enhanced specificity and efficacy. This study discusses the mechanisms of action, clinical outcomes, and future prospects of peptide-based vaccines in the context of oral cancer, highlighting the importance of continued research and development to overcome current challenges and improve therapeutic efficacy. Keywords Peptide-based vaccines; Oral cancer; Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs); Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Neoantigen-based vaccines 1 Introduction Oral cancer, a subset of head and neck cancers, is a significant global health concern due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. It primarily affects the squamous cells lining the oral cavity and oropharynx. Risk factors include tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Despite advances in surgical techniques, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, the prognosis for oral cancer patients remains poor, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 50% (Parmiani et al., 2014; Liu et al., 2021). This underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. Peptide-based vaccines have emerged as a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. These vaccines utilize short sequences of amino acids (peptides) that mimic tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) or tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) to elicit a targeted immune response(Naciute et al., 2020). The primary mechanism involves the activation of CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes and CD4+helper T cells, which recognize and destroy cancer cells presenting these antigens (Khong and Overwijk, 2016; Tardón et al., 2019; Liu et al., 2021). Recent advancements have focused on optimizing peptide sequences, incorporating adjuvants, and utilizing delivery systems to enhance the immunogenicity and clinical efficacy of these vaccines (Yang et al., 2015; Zamani et al., 2020; Abd-Aziz and Poh, 2020). Despite some challenges, such as limited potency and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, peptide-based vaccines have shown potential in preclinical and clinical settings (He et al., 2018; Jiang et al., 2022). This study investigates the mechanisms of action and clinical outcomes of peptide-based vaccines specifically targeting oral cancer. By reviewing existing literature and analyzing clinical trial data, the research aims to comprehensively understand how to optimize these vaccines to enhance therapeutic efficacy. The study covers the selection of appropriate peptide antigens, the role of adjuvants and delivery systems, and the potential of
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNQ==