Improvement of tumor neoantigen detection by high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility mass spectrometry,
Cancer neoantigens are new proteins that forms on cancer cells when certain mutations occur in tumor DNA and have roles in both spontaneous and treatment induced responses. Previously, researchers have used a technique called mass spectrometry (MS) to profile tumors for the neoantigens but, MS-based detection of clinically relevant neoantigens is insensitive and requires many cells. In the next study, “Improvement of tumor neoantigen detection by high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility mass spectrometry,” researchers used a technique called high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) Here, to determine the minimum detectable amounts of therapeutically relevant neoantigens. They found a 14-fold enhancement of sensitivity, allowing detection of a well-known neoantigen from only 100 mg of tumor. This study demonstrates that FAIMS substantially increases the sensitivity of MS-based characterization of validated neoantigens from tumors. These results indicate that FAIMS-MS may be able to increase neoantigen detection and help to find neoantigen targets.