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Tumor-associated carbohydrates and immunomodulatory lectins as targets for cancer immunotherapy

Natalia Rodrigues Mantuano1, Marina Natoli1, Alfred Zippelius1

  • 1Department of Biomedicine, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer
|October 6, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Tumor-associated carbohydrates (TACA) are novel cancer immunotherapy targets. Inhibiting TACA-binding immune receptors, like Siglecs, can enhance antitumor immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Oncology
  • Glycobiology

Background:

  • Tumor cells express unique carbohydrate structures (TACA) as potential immunotherapy targets.
  • Certain TACA, particularly sialic acid-containing glycans, can suppress anti-cancer immune responses.
  • Immune receptors like Siglecs bind TACA and inhibit immune cells (myeloid, NK, T cells).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review strategies targeting TACA for cancer immunotherapy.
  • To summarize efforts to inhibit TACA-binding inhibitory immune receptors.
  • To highlight the Siglec-sialoglycan axis in cancer immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on TACA and immune receptor interactions.
  • Analysis of current clinical trials targeting glycan-lectin interactions.
  • Synthesis of research on Siglec-mediated immune inhibition in cancer.

Main Results:

  • TACA-targeting antibodies and vaccines are under development.
  • Targeting glycan-lectin interactions, such as TIM-3/galectin-9, shows therapeutic promise.
  • Inhibitory receptors like Siglec-15 are being investigated in clinical trials.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting TACA and their inhibitory receptors offers a promising avenue for cancer immunotherapy.
  • Modulating the Siglec-sialoglycan axis is a key strategy to overcome immune suppression in tumors.
  • Further research and clinical development are needed to fully exploit these targets.
Keywords:
antigenscarbohydratelymphocytestumor-associatedtumor-infiltrating

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