Three-dimensional structures of carbohydrate determinants of Lewis system antigens: Implications for effective antibody targeting of cancer

Abstract

Lewis system carbohydrate antigens have been shown to be expressed at high levels in many cancers of epithelial cell origin, including those of colon, breast, lung, prostate and ovary. The type 1 (Lea and Leb) antigens are important histo-blood groups, while type 2 (Lex and Ley) antigens in healthy individuals are only expressed, at relatively low levels, by a few tissues, including some epithelial cells. Thus, the type 2 antigens are considered to be tumour-associated antigens and are promising targets for cancer treatment, including antibody-based immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the conformational characteristics of the free and bound forms of Lewis oligosaccharides and the 3D st..