Sialic acid and Siglec receptors in tumor immunity and immunotherapy

Semin Immunol. 2024 Jul-Sep:74-75:101893. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2024.101893. Epub 2024 Oct 19.

Abstract

Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibition, has transformed cancer therapy in recent years, providing new and potentially curative options for patients with even advanced disease. However, only a minority of patients achieve long-lasting remissions, and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibition is common. Recently, the sialic acid-Siglec axis has been proposed as a new immune checkpoint that could overcome resistance to current immunotherapy options. In this review, we summarize the current preclinical knowledge about the role of the sialic acid-Siglec interaction in immune suppression in cancer and discuss potential approaches to block this inhibitory pathway to enhance anti-cancer immunity.

Keywords: Cancer immunotherapy; Glycosylation; Immune checkpoint; Myeloid cell.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins* / metabolism

Substances

  • Sialic Acid Binding Immunoglobulin-like Lectins
  • N-Acetylneuraminic Acid
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors