Using the Tn Antigen as an Immunotherapeutic Cancer Treatment
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Presentation
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. John F. Trant
Proposal
Immunotherapeutic cancer treatment is a way of having the body’s immune system attack cancer cells in order to slow growth and/or prevent metastasis. The Tn antigen has been found in cancer cells of the breast, lung, colon, bladder, cervix, ovary, stomach, pancreas, and prostate; it is found on over 90% of breast cancers. It is never found on healthy cells, which makes it a promising target for immunotherapy. This tumor associated-carbohydrate-antigen (TACA) has been linked to metastasis and poor prognosis. The Tn antigen has been known to escapes immunosurveillance, meaning the immune system does not see it as foreign. The current limitation of using the Tn antigen to create a vaccine is due to its poor immune response and the biological instability of the natural carbohydrate in the body. The first step of this project is to synthesize two derivatives of the natural Tn antigen (attached to both the amino acids Serine and Threonine) as well as their acetal-free version. The natural Tn will be analyzed for biological stability against our acetal-free versions. In order to improve the ability of the immune system to recognize the Tn antigen, immunogenic glycopeptides containing the Tn antigen will be synthesized into different generations of dendrons to compare the multivalency effects in immune response. The overall goal is to create a stable derivative of the Tn antigen that will be able to stimulate the immune system into attacking certain cancers. This presentation will discuss the role of the tumour-associated carbohydrate antigens in cancer and examine the efforts made by the Trant Team to improve its immunogenicity.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Using the Tn Antigen as an Immunotherapeutic Cancer Treatment
Immunotherapeutic cancer treatment is a way of having the body’s immune system attack cancer cells in order to slow growth and/or prevent metastasis. The Tn antigen has been found in cancer cells of the breast, lung, colon, bladder, cervix, ovary, stomach, pancreas, and prostate; it is found on over 90% of breast cancers. It is never found on healthy cells, which makes it a promising target for immunotherapy. This tumor associated-carbohydrate-antigen (TACA) has been linked to metastasis and poor prognosis. The Tn antigen has been known to escapes immunosurveillance, meaning the immune system does not see it as foreign. The current limitation of using the Tn antigen to create a vaccine is due to its poor immune response and the biological instability of the natural carbohydrate in the body. The first step of this project is to synthesize two derivatives of the natural Tn antigen (attached to both the amino acids Serine and Threonine) as well as their acetal-free version. The natural Tn will be analyzed for biological stability against our acetal-free versions. In order to improve the ability of the immune system to recognize the Tn antigen, immunogenic glycopeptides containing the Tn antigen will be synthesized into different generations of dendrons to compare the multivalency effects in immune response. The overall goal is to create a stable derivative of the Tn antigen that will be able to stimulate the immune system into attacking certain cancers. This presentation will discuss the role of the tumour-associated carbohydrate antigens in cancer and examine the efforts made by the Trant Team to improve its immunogenicity.