Tumor-Associated Carbohydrate Antigens Targeting Immunotherapy

Tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) are expressed in a majority of carcinoma-type malignancies, but not in normal tissue, and they play an important role in driving oncogenic transformation. A highly relevant TACA is the Tn antigen, which is ubiquitously expressed in many human carcinomas, and which likely represents a promising diagnostic biomarker and candidate for molecular-targeted therapy. Over the last several decades, a myriad of immunotherapies and vaccination therapies against the Tn antigen have been developed; however, these have not shown sufficient anti-tumor efficacy. This review presents a novel methodology for generating a defined anti-Tn monoclonal antibody (mAb) and presents the latest cancer immunotherapies with anti-Tn mAb (targeted therapy, CAR-T cell therapy, and antibody-drug conjugates) within the hostile tumor microenvironment.