The glycocalyx is a carbohydrate-rich coating that covers the outside of cells. Immune surveillance mechanisms utilize a cells glycocalyx to identify the cell as “self” or “non-self”, however, many pathogens and cellular diseases (i.e., cancer) evade immuno surveillance by incorporating carbohydrates in their glycocalyx that are recognized as “self”.1 This evasion strategy inhibits immune cells from fully exerting their effector functions. These effectors functions are critical to the success of anti-tumor immunosurveillance and immunotherapies being currently utilized to treat cancer. Pharmacologically altering the glycocalyx of cancer cells to facilitate immune recognition holds the potential to enhance anti-tumor immunosurveillance and immunotherapies. To date, a significant amount of research focused on removing carbohydrates that facilitate immune evasion from a diseased cells glycocalyx;2-4 however, there are few studies that focus on increasing the glycocalyx concentration of glycans that interact with immune cell activating receptors. In this presentation we will demonstrate that increasing the concentration of glycans that facilitate immune cell activation can potentiate cancer cell targeting immunotherapies. Alteration of the cancer cells glycocalyx has been achieved by inhibiting enzymes that facilitate the synthesis of glycans that are found in a cells glycocalyx. Furthermore, we will have developed cancer cell selective variants of these inhibitors in order to prevent the killing of healthy cells.

Enhancing immunotherapy strategies by altering the glycocalyx composition of diseased cells

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.