CD24 molecule (tumor-associated O-glycoform) (CD24)

CD24 is a small, heavily glycosylated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored surface protein that serves as a critical immune checkpoint in the tumor microenvironment [Barkal et al., 2019, Nature]. The tumor-associated O-glycoform of CD24 is characterized by specific glycosylation patterns that facilitate high-affinity binding to Sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin 10 (Siglec-10) on tumor-associated macrophages [UniProt P25063]. This interaction triggers an inhibitory signaling cascade that functions as a 'don't eat me' signal, protecting cancer cells from phagocytic clearance [Barkal et al., 2019]. CD24 is frequently overexpressed in a wide range of malignancies, including ovarian, breast, and colorectal cancers, where it is often associated with cancer stemness and poor prognosis [Altevogt et al., 2021, Cancer Letters]. Therapeutic strategies targeting this specific glycoform aim to neutralize the CD24-Siglec-10 axis, thereby restoring the innate immune system's ability to identify and eliminate malignant cells. Current drug development focuses on monoclonal antibodies and CAR-T cell therapies designed to selectively target the aberrant O-glycoforms found in tumors to minimize impact on healthy hematopoietic cells [PubMed ID: 31367043].

Other names

Cluster of differentiation 24Heat stable antigenHSASmall cell lung carcinoma cluster 4 antigenCD24ASignal transducer CD24

Blockade of the CD24-Siglec-10 signaling axis to disrupt the 'don't eat me' signal and promote macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells, alongside induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).