Targeting Glycans in Cancer Therapy

Sugars are not only used as fuel by the human body, but also as building block. All cells, including cancer cells, are covered by sugar trees (glycans). However, cancer cells seem to be covered with different sugar trees than healthy cells. As such, these cancer-associated sugars can serve as a point of intervention. Abundance of some sugars on cancer cells is associated with a local reduced immune response, increased tumor growth, and metastasis. Consequently, removal of such sugars improves the immune response. 

This project aims to develop new anti-cancer drugs, targeting these sugar trees. Therefore, the researchers will test what types of tumors are susceptible to these drugs and develop new drugs with improved properties.