A Fully Synthetic Globo H Carbohydrate Vaccine Induces a Focused Humoral Response in Prostate Cancer Patients: A Proof of Principle

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 1999 Feb 15;38(4):563-566. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-3773(19990215)38:4<563::AID-ANIE563>3.0.CO;2-3.

Abstract

Human trials on the globo H carbohydrate vaccine (see picture, KLH=the carrier protein keyhole limpet hemocyanin) show that it produces strong IgM, and in some cases IgG, responses in patients with progressive and recurrent prostate cancer. Furthermore, these antibodies not only recognize synthetic antigens, but also globo H-positive tumors in biopsy extracts and tumor tissues.

Keywords: Antitumor agents; Carbohydrates; Drug research; Globo H; Glycoconjugates; Vaccines.