Abstract

The concept according to which unique, rare and common sequences may define immunogenicity, immunopathogenicity and immunotolerance, respectively, is graphically illustrated using a melanoma-associatedantigen, Melan-A/Mart-1, as a model. The final picture is consolidated by experimentally validated data from the scientific literature and may represent a concrete prelude to effective immunotherapies exempt from collateral autoimmune reactions.

Keywords: Anti-cancer immunotherapy, autoimmunity, melan-A/Mart-1, immunogenicity, immunopathogenicity, immunotolerance, sequence similarity, the low-similarity theory.

Graphical Abstract