Researchers are exploring whether blood samples can replace surgically removed tumor tissue as the primary source for identifying cancer-specific proteins, known as neoantigens, that are needed to manufacture personalized immunotherapies. Currently, immunotherapy requires a tumor sample to be removed surgically and analyzed so that a treatment tailored to the patient can be produced. The challenge is that obtaining sufficient tumor tissue is not always feasible. Patients with tumors in hard-to-access locations, such as deep within the brain or near vital organs, or those whose overall health makes surgery risky, may be unable to provide the sample that the current manufacturing process demands.
If additional clinical trials confirm the efficacy of the blood-based approach for obtaining data on cancer neoantigens and specific T-cell activation, the implications for the field could be substantial. A validated blood test would reduce reliance on invasive biopsies, making personalized immunotherapy accessible to a broader group of patients who are currently excluded because a tumor sample cannot be safely or reliably obtained. It could also shorten the time required to manufacture immunotherapies developed by companies such as Calidi Biotherapeutics Inc. (NYSE American: CLDI), because the process of collecting and analyzing a blood sample is less complex than scheduling and performing surgery. For patients with aggressive cancers, where delays can affect outcomes, faster turnaround could be clinically meaningful.
The approach also aligns with a broader shift toward liquid biopsies in oncology. If blood can reliably reveal the neoantigen landscape and T-cell responses, it may enable repeated monitoring over the course of treatment, allowing clinicians to adapt therapies as a tumor evolves. That kind of dynamic, non-invasive profiling is not possible with a single surgical sample. However, the method is still investigational. The source material notes that additional clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy, and questions remain about sensitivity, specificity, and whether blood-based readouts fully capture the diversity of neoantigens present in a solid tumor. Read More>>
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For the immunotherapy sector, the blood-based concept represents a potential inflection point. If the clinical evidence holds, it could lower barriers to entry for personalized treatment, reduce costs associated with surgical procurement, and accelerate the development timelines of companies working on neoantigen-targeted therapies. It could also change how trials are designed, allowing enrollment of patients who previously had no viable path to these advanced treatments. Until confirmatory data are available, the approach remains promising but unproven, and the standard of care continues to rely on tumor tissue for neoantigen identification.
