Rømer TB, Aasted MKM, Dabelsteen S, Groen A, Schnabel J, Tan E, Pedersen JW, Haue AD, Wandall HH. Mapping of truncated O-glycans in cancers of epithelial and non-epithelial origin.
Br J Cancer 2021;
125:1239-1250. [PMID:
34526666 DOI:
10.1038/s41416-021-01530-7]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Novel immunotherapies targeting cancer-associated truncated O-glycans Tn (GalNAcα-Ser/Thr) and STn (Neu5Acα2-6GalNacα-Ser/Thr) are promising strategies for cancer treatment. However, no comprehensive, antibody-based mapping of truncated O-glycans in tumours exist to guide drug development.
METHODS
We used monoclonal antibodies to map the expression of truncated O-glycans in >700 tissue cores representing healthy and tumour tissues originating from breast, colon, lung, pancreas, skin, CNS and mesenchymal tissue. Patient-derived xenografts were used to evaluate Tn expression upon tumour engraftment.
RESULTS
The Tn-antigen was highly expressed in breast (57%, n = 64), colorectal (51%, n = 140) and pancreatic (53%, n = 108) tumours, while STn was mainly observed in colorectal (80%, n = 140) and pancreatic (56%, n = 108) tumours. We observed no truncated O-glycans in mesenchymal tumours (n = 32) and low expression of Tn (5%, n = 87) and STn (1%, n = 75) in CNS tumours. No Tn-antigen was found in normal tissue (n = 124) while STn was occasionally observed in healthy gastrointestinal tissue. Surface expression of Tn-antigen was identified across several cancers. Tn and STn expression decreased with tumour grade, but not with cancer stage. Numerous xenografts maintained Tn expression.
CONCLUSIONS
Surface expression of truncated O-glycans is limited to cancers of epithelial origin, making Tn and STn attractive immunological targets in the treatment of human carcinomas.
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