Very educative review on recent advances in small antibody fragments targeting tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens
Glycans represent the most versatile post-translational modification in nature and surround all human cells. Unique glycan structures are monitored by the immune system and differentiate self from non-self and healthy from malignant cells. Aberrant glycosylations, termed tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), are a hallmark of cancer and are correlated with all aspects of cancer biology. Therefore, TACAs represent attractive targets for monoclonal antibodies for cancer diagnosis and therapy. However, due to the thick and dense glycocalyx as well as the tumor micro-environment, conventional antibodies often suffer from restricted access and limited effectiveness in vivo. To overcome this issue, many small antibody fragments have come forth, showing similar affinity with better efficiency than their full-length counterparts. In this paper, small antibody fragments against specific glycans on tumour cells and highlighting their advantages over conventional antibodies are presented.
Sana Khan Khilji, Charlotte Op ‘t Hoog, David Warschkau, Felix Goerdeler, Anika Freitag, Peter Seeberger, Oren Moscovitz
