Core 2 O-glycan-expressing tumor cell surface antigen

Core 2 O-glycan-expressing tumor cell surface antigens are a class of complex carbohydrate structures found on the surface of tumor cells. These antigens are generated by the enzymatic action of glycosyltransferases (primarily C2GnT1 and C2GnT2), which convert the T (core 1) antigen to the branched core 2 O-glycan structure by adding a β6-linked N-acetylglucosamine. In cancer, notably colorectal and breast, there is a shift in the O-glycosylation profile, leading to increased expression of Core 2 O-glycan-containing antigens, often carrying further modifications such as sialyl-Lewis^x/a epitopes. These tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) drive tumor progression by promoting cell adhesion, metastasis, and immune evasion by shielding cancer cells from immune recognition[1][2][3][4][5]. Core 2 O-glycans can alter interactions with immune cells and the extracellular matrix, and are promising, though challenging, targets for immunotherapies, including monoclonal antibodies and adoptive cell therapies. They can serve as cancer biomarkers and are implicated in disease prognosis and therapeutic response[2][5].

Other names

Core 2 O-glycanCore 2 mucin-type O-glycanCore 2 tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen (Core 2 TACA)Core2 β6-GlcNAc O-glycanCancer-associated core 2 O-glycosylation

Inhibition of tumor cell immune evasion via antibody recognition of carbohydrate antigen Disruption of tumor cell adhesion and metastasis by targeting glycan structures Immune modulation through anti-TACA antibodies[2].