Use of Surrogate Antigens as Vaccines Against Cancer

Abstract

Tumor cells may evade immune surveillance by possessing polysaccharides or carbohydrates on their surface. This evasive strategy is effective because glycans are poorly immunogenic and fail to elicit immunological memory responses due to an absence of T-cell processing. Induction of an immune response to cell surface carbohydrate antigens is considered as an important strategy to fight cancer. As carbohydrates per se are poor immunogens, alternative approaches are being evaluated to induce functional cross-reactive responses. We are focusing on the use of peptide mimotopes of tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens to challenge cancer, as we would manipulate the immune system to establish protective immunity based on carbohydrate cross-reactive humoral and cellular responses.