Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
11:02
Induction of Invasive Transitional Cell Bladder Carcinoma in Immune Intact Human MUC1 Transgenic Mice: A Model for Immunotherapy Development
Published on: October 30, 2013
MUC1 and breast cancer.
V Apostolopoulos1, G A Pietersz, I F McKenzie
1Austin Research Institute, Austin and Repatriation Medical Center, Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia. v.apostolopoulos@ari.unimelb.edu.au
Current Opinion in Molecular Therapeutics
|March 16, 2001
Summary
Researchers found that mannan, a carbohydrate, effectively carries MUC1 to stimulate an immune response against cancer. This finding supports MUC1 as a potential target for cancer immunotherapy and vaccines.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Carbohydrate Chemistry
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapy is a key research area, aiming to enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer.
- Mucins, particularly MUC1, are overexpressed in various cancers and represent promising targets for therapeutic intervention.
- Existing immunotherapies face challenges in eliciting a robust and tumor-specific immune response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of mannan as a carrier molecule for MUC1-based cancer immunotherapy.
- To evaluate the efficacy of mannan-MUC1 conjugate in eliciting a cellular immune response against cancer.
- To assess the suitability of MUC1 as a target for cancer vaccines.
Main Methods:
- Conjugation of MUC1 antigen with mannan, a polymannose carbohydrate carrier.
- Assessment of the cellular immune response elicited by the mannan-MUC1 conjugate.
- Analysis of MUC1 immunogenicity in preclinical models.
Main Results:
- Mannan demonstrated effectiveness as a carrier for MUC1, significantly enhancing the cellular immune response.
- The mannan-MUC1 conjugate successfully stimulated an immune response relevant for cancer eradication.
- MUC1 was confirmed as a viable target for immunotherapy and vaccine development.
Conclusions:
- Mannan serves as an effective carrier for MUC1, facilitating a potent cellular immune response for cancer immunotherapy.
- MUC1 holds significant promise as a target for developing novel cancer vaccines and immunotherapeutic strategies.
- Further clinical evaluation of MUC1-based immunotherapies is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
01:25Mucosal Barrier of the Stomach
The gastric glands contain parietal cells that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) for digestion. The cells secrete HCl because it is highly corrosive and essential for breaking down food. To achieve this, they secrete hydrogen and chloride ions into the lumen of the gastric glands, which combine to form HCl.
Within parietal cells, carbonic acid is first formed through the reaction of water and carbon dioxide. The dissociation of carbonic acid releases bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. The bicarbonate...
Within parietal cells, carbonic acid is first formed through the reaction of water and carbon dioxide. The dissociation of carbonic acid releases bicarbonate and hydrogen ions. The bicarbonate...