Carbohydrate Antigens: Synthesis Aspects and Immunological Applications in Cancer

Abstract

Tumor Associated Carbohydrate Antigens (TACAs) constitute powerful tools as tumor markers and as targets for anticancer immunotherapy. In this review, methods of production of glycopeptide-based vaccines, as well as results of preclinical and clinical studies in cancer patients are discussed.

GalNAcα1‐3Gal, a new prognostic marker for cervical cancer

“…A prime example of inconsistent data involves the Tn antigen, a tumor‐associated carbohydrate antigen that has been examined at length as a cancer biomarker and cancer vaccine antigen 8–10, 33, 34. Expression of the Tn antigen has been studied extensively in a broad range of tumor and normal tissues; however, conflicting results regarding the presence or absence of the antigen and/or its relationship with prognosis are common.…”

Glycodendrimers: versatile tools for nanotechnology

“…These glycoproteins are heavily glycosylated on normal cells while limited O-glycosylations on cancer cells have been clearly demonstrated ( Figure 3). Gangliosides (GM2, GD2, GD3) and neutral glycolipids (globo-H and Lewis y ) on epithelial tumor cells of breast, lung, colon, bladder, and prostate are also considerably altered both in number and in structures (Livingston, 1995;Roy, 2004;Freire et al, 2006;Franco, 2008;Roy, 2008;Roy, Shiao, 2011). In the tumorassociated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) of mucins, a down-regulation of a key glycosyltransferase triggers the accumulation of shorter glycans, the most common being the T N -and the TF-antigens (TF = Thomsen-Friedenreich), respectively.…”

“…stimulation of long lasting, high affinity antibodies, preferably of the IgG isotypes against the carbohydrate antigens. Several groups have developed systematic research projects aimed at the synthesis of various vaccine compositions (Livingston, 1995;Danishefsky, Allen, 2000;Kudryashov et al, 2001;Roy, 2004;Spohn et al, 2004;Freire et al, 2006;Liakatos, Kunz, 2007;Roy, 2008;Franco, 2008;Guo, Wang, 2009;Roy, Shiao, 2011). In spite of the limited success encountered with traditional vaccine formulations based on vaccine carriers harboring the above carbohydrate antigens (Koganty, Yalamati, Jiang, 2008), considerable efforts have been recently devoted to the chemical design of glycodendrimers.…”

RM2 Antigen: Synthesis of Glycoconjugates

“…Many TACAs have been characterized for specific types of cancer [5] and suggested for the development of tumor-specific vaccines The first commercial vaccine made from a synthetic carbohydrate. Adapted from [3], copyright 2015, with permission from John Wiley & Sons Ltd [6,7]. However, because carbohydrates generally display poor immunogenicity, a glycan vaccine conjugated with a carrier protein can stimulate the immune response.…”

“…By sufficient coupling the mentioned tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens with immunogenic carrier protein, vaccines are currently undergoing clinical evaluation with encouraging results (Table 3.1) [15]. [6,7] 3.1 Introduction [32][33][34] Globo H, Tn, STn, TF, and GM2…”