Science
Better cancer immunotherapies for patients start
with better antigen selection
At Genocea, it is our mission to identify the right tumor targets to develop life-changing immunotherapies for people suffering from cancer. Our proprietary ATLAS™ platform comprehensively profiles each patient’s T cell responses to potential targets, or antigens, on that patient’s tumor.
In addition to our two clinical-stage oncology programs, GEN-009 and GEN-011, we are applying ATLAS to antigen discovery in multiple other disease settings.
ATLAS
Inhibigens
Unique and proprietary antigen discovery platform
ATLAS™ is a unique bioassay that enables a superior, patient biology-driven approach to identify targets of protective T cell responses. ATLAS zeroes in on only those surface-presented antigens that trigger anti-tumor T cell responses. Learn more about how ATLAS works to improve immunotherapies below.
What is ATLAS?
Pushing Boundaries
How ATLAS Works
from patient
Tumor tissue biopsy
and blood samples
Tumor
mutation
sequence
Sequencing identifies
tumor-specific
mutations
are cloned into
Genocea’s E. coli
libraries
Plasmid
E. coli express
tumor-specific
mutations
Dendritic
cells
cells take up and
present tumor
antigens to T cells
accurate readout of
the patient’s own
immune response
T cells
T cells produce
cytokines
assay that can identify
antigens to target or avoid -
taking the guesswork out of
personalized immunotherapy
Step 1.
Our proprietary ATLAS assay begins with the
patient. We use tumor biopsy samples from each
patient to ensure that the assay input includes
the majority of unique tumor mutations. We also
take a blood sample to collect immune cells.
Our proprietary ATLAS assay begins with the patient. We use tumor biopsy samples from each patient to ensure that the assay input includes the majority of unique tumor mutations. We also take a blood sample to collect immune cells.
Step 2.
We then use next generation sequencing (NGS)
to identify tumor-specific mutations (potential
neoantigens). We generate unique DNA
plasmids encoding each candidate neoantigen.
We then use next generation sequencing (NGS) to identify tumor-specific mutations (potential neoantigens). We generate unique DNA plasmids encoding each candidate neoantigen.
Step 3.
These plasmids are then cloned into Genocea’s
E. coli libraries. The bacteria individually
express each candidate neoantigen for testing
using the patient’s immune cells, isolated from
the collected blood sample.
These plasmids are then cloned into Genocea’s E. coli libraries. The bacteria individually express each candidate neoantigen for testing using the patient’s immune cells, isolated from the collected blood sample.
Step 4.
The patient’s specialized immune cells, antigen
presenting cells, take up the bacteria expressing
the tumor-specific mutation and bring the antigen
pieces to the surface of the cell for presentation
to the patient’s T cells.
These T cells are the immune cells responsible
for recognizing and killing tumors.
The patient’s specialized immune cells, antigen presenting cells, take up the bacteria expressing the tumor-specific mutation and bring the antigen pieces to the surface of the cell for presentation to the patient’s T cells.
These T cells are the immune cells responsible for recognizing and killing tumors.
Step 5.
ATLAS is a bioassay and not a machine learning
prediction platform. Therefore, it provides accurate
data indicative of each patient’s unique
immune response against their own tumor mutations,
taking the guesswork out of cancer immunotherapy
development.
ATLAS is a bioassay and not a machine learning prediction platform. Therefore, it provides accurate data indicative of each patient’s unique immune response against their own tumor mutations, taking the guesswork out of cancer immunotherapy development.
Step 6.
Our immunotherapies are rationally designed to stimulate potentially beneficial immune responses against each patient’s unique cancer, and only ATLAS can identify the correct antigens to target and the antigens to avoid. With our ATLAS bioassay, Genocea is pioneering a future of personalized treatments for patients everywhere because #TargetsMatter.
Click the ATLAS logo to learn more
Our immunotherapies are rationally designed to stimulate potentially beneficial immune responses against each patient’s unique cancer, and only ATLAS can identify the correct antigens to target and the antigens to avoid. With our ATLAS bioassay, Genocea is pioneering a future of personalized treatments for patients everywhere because #TargetsMatter.
Click the ATLAS logo to learn more
Our ATLAS assay provides a readout of immune response by monitoring changes in secretion of cell signaling proteins, called cytokines. The levels of cytokines are compared to levels secreted by cells in response to control non-antigens (baseline). If they are above baseline, the mutation is a stimulatory antigen for T cells that may drive anti-tumor responses. If the levels are below baseline, the mutation is an inhibitory antigen for T cells and may hinder anti-tumor immune responses. We call these novel inhibitory antigens Inhibigens™.
Click here to learn more about Inhibigens
How ATLAS Works
from patient
Tumor tissue biopsy
and blood samples
Tumor
mutation
sequence
Sequencing identifies
tumor-specific
mutations
are cloned into
Genocea’s E. coli
libraries
Plasmid
E. coli express
tumor-specific
mutations
Dendritic
cells
cells take up and
present tumor
antigens to T cells
accurate readout of
the patient’s own
immune response
T cells
T cells produce
cytokines
assay that can identify
antigens to target or avoid -
taking the guesswork out of
personalized immunotherapy
How ATLAS Works
from patient
Tumor tissue biopsy
and blood samples
Tumor
mutation
sequence
Sequencing identifies
tumor-specific
mutations
are cloned into
Genocea’s E. coli
libraries
Plasmid
E. coli express
tumor-specific
mutations
Dendritic
cells
cells take up and
present tumor
antigens to T cells
the patient's immune response
accurate readout of
the patient’s own
immune response
T cells
T cells produce
cytokines
biological assay that
can identify antigens to
target or avoid - taking
the guesswork out of personalized
immunotherapy
ATLAS antigen selection: our foundation
- Included: Antigens relevant to both disease and patient immune system
- Confirms antigens that are surface-presented and drive anti-tumor T cell responses
-
- Excluded: Inhibigens, uniquely identified by ATLAS
- CD4+ and CD8+ T cells responding to Inhibigens can promote tumor growth and compete with immunotherapy anti-tumor effects
- For any patient, any antigen type, any disease, and both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells
- ATLAS is a highly industrialized platform
- Global patent families protect ATLAS into 2030s
Inhibigens™ – Identified Solely Through ATLAS
ATLAS is the only technology that can identify pro-tumor inhibitory antigens, or InhibigensTM, which subvert anti-tumor immune responses in the context of cancer immunotherapy. A growing body of foundational research led by the Genocea team has revealed the responses to Inhibigens enhance tumor growth and undermine otherwise effective immunotherapies.
What are Inhibigens™️?
Inhibigens
below-baseline cytokine
secretion.
growth by suppressing normal
immune responses.
regulate harmful immune
system overactivity.
identify each patient’s
unique Inhibigens.
Inhibigens
below-baseline cytokine
secretion.
growth by suppressing normal
immune responses.
regulate harmful immune
system overactivity.
identify each patient’s
unique Inhibigens.
If the cytokine levels measured by ATLAS in the presence of a tumor mutation are below the patient’s baseline secretion levels, the T cell responses to the identified antigen may hinder anti-tumor immunity. We call these novel inhibitory antigens Inhibigens™.
Inhibigen-specific responses can significantly inhibit anti-tumor immunity and even some powerful immunotherapies cannot overcome their effect. Therefore, Inhibigens should be excluded from effective personalized cancer treatments.
Genocea is conducting research to understand how cells responding to Inhibigens act within the immune system. Understanding their mechanism of action could lead to more effective treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, where immune suppression would be valuable.
ATLAS is the only bioassay that can comprehensively
identify the correct antigens to target or
avoid, enabling rational design of immunotherapies.
With our ATLAS bioassay, Genocea
is pioneering a future of personalized
treatments for patients everywhere because
#TargetsMatter.
Click here to learn more about ATLAS
Explore more information on this breakthrough research below:
- “An empirical antigen selection method identifies neoantigens that either elicit broad anti-tumor T cell responses or drive tumor growth”, Cancer Discovery
- “Neoantigens: Friend or foe? New insights into tumor mutations that both betray and protect cancer”, STAT
- Hear more from the team working on this pivotal research
Step 1.
Our proprietary ATLAS assay begins with the
patient. We use tumor biopsy samples from each
patient to ensure that the assay input includes
the majority of unique tumor mutations. We also
take a blood sample to collect immune cells.
Our proprietary ATLAS assay begins with the patient. We use tumor biopsy samples from each patient to ensure that the assay input includes the majority of unique tumor mutations. We also take a blood sample to collect immune cells.
Step 2.
We then use next generation sequencing (NGS)
to identify tumor-specific mutations (potential
neoantigens). We generate unique DNA
plasmids encoding each candidate neoantigen.
We then use next generation sequencing (NGS) to identify tumor-specific mutations (potential neoantigens). We generate unique DNA plasmids encoding each candidate neoantigen.
Step 3.
These plasmids are then cloned into Genocea’s
E. coli libraries. The bacteria individually
express each candidate neoantigen for testing
using the patient’s immune cells, isolated from
the collected blood sample.
These plasmids are then cloned into Genocea’s E. coli libraries. The bacteria individually express each candidate neoantigen for testing using the patient’s immune cells, isolated from the collected blood sample.
Step 4.
The patient’s specialized immune cells, antigen
presenting cells, take up the bacteria expressing
the tumor-specific mutation and bring the antigen
pieces to the surface of the cell for presentation
to the patient’s T cells.
These T cells are the immune cells responsible
for recognizing and killing tumors.
The patient’s specialized immune cells, antigen presenting cells, take up the bacteria expressing the tumor-specific mutation and bring the antigen pieces to the surface of the cell for presentation to the patient’s T cells.
These T cells are the immune cells responsible for recognizing and killing tumors.
Step 5.
ATLAS is a bioassay and not a machine learning
prediction platform. Therefore, it provides accurate
data indicative of each patient’s unique
immune response against their own tumor mutations,
taking the guesswork out of cancer immunotherapy
development.
ATLAS is a bioassay and not a machine learning prediction platform. Therefore, it provides accurate data indicative of each patient’s unique immune response against their own tumor mutations, taking the guesswork out of cancer immunotherapy development.
Step 6.
Our immunotherapies are rationally designed to stimulate potentially beneficial immune responses against each patient’s unique cancer, and only ATLAS can identify the correct antigens to target and the antigens to avoid. With our ATLAS bioassay, Genocea is pioneering a future of personalized treatments for patients everywhere because #TargetsMatter.
Click the ATLAS logo to learn more
Our immunotherapies are rationally designed to stimulate potentially beneficial immune responses against each patient’s unique cancer, and only ATLAS can identify the correct antigens to target and the antigens to avoid. With our ATLAS bioassay, Genocea is pioneering a future of personalized treatments for patients everywhere because #TargetsMatter.
Click the ATLAS logo to learn more
Our ATLAS assay provides a readout of immune response by monitoring changes in secretion of cell signaling proteins, called cytokines. The levels of cytokines are compared to levels secreted by cells in response to control non-antigens (baseline). If they are above baseline, the mutation is a stimulatory antigen for T cells that may drive anti-tumor responses. If the levels are below baseline, the mutation is an inhibitory antigen for T cells and may hinder anti-tumor immune responses. We call these novel inhibitory antigens Inhibigens™.
Click here to learn more about Inhibigens
How ATLAS Works
from patient
Tumor tissue biopsy
and blood samples
Tumor
mutation
sequence
Sequencing identifies
tumor-specific
mutations
are cloned into
Genocea’s E. coli
libraries
Plasmid
E. coli express
tumor-specific
mutations
Dendritic
cells
cells take up and
present tumor
antigens to T cells
accurate readout of
the patient’s own
immune response
T cells
T cells produce
cytokines
assay that can identify
antigens to target or avoid -
taking the guesswork out of
personalized immunotherapy
How ATLAS Works
from patient
Tumor tissue biopsy
and blood samples
Tumor
mutation
sequence
Sequencing identifies
tumor-specific
mutations
are cloned into
Genocea’s E. coli
libraries
Plasmid
E. coli express
tumor-specific
mutations
Dendritic
cells
cells take up and
present tumor
antigens to T cells
the patient's immune response
accurate readout of
the patient’s own
immune response
T cells
T cells produce
cytokines