Revealing the Hidden Role of Sugars in Cancer
Every cell in our body is coated in sugars that act as markers and messengers, telling our immune system which cells belong and which do not. Cancer cells exploit this sugar coating to hide from detection, resist treatments, and spread to new parts of the body. By reshaping these sugars, tumours become masters of disguise, able to mislead immune cells and encourage other cells to help them grow.
At GlycoNet, our scientists are tackling this challenge by making the invisible visible. They study how sugars on cancer cells change, how these sugars interact with other biomolecules, and how these changes allow tumours to thrive. By uncovering these hidden mechanisms, our researchers are laying the foundation for technologies that can outsmart cancer’s deception, detecting, blocking, or directly targeting cancer cells when the immune system cannot.
The projects below highlight cutting-edge glycomics research tackling cancer. Each is led by GlycoNet investigators using glycomics to unlock new strategies for diagnosis, therapy, and patient survival.
Disrupting Oncogenic Extracellular Vesicle Dynamics with the Glycolipid GA1: A Novel Therapeutic Approach in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and many cases become difficult to treat once tumors spread or resist therapy. One way cancer cells gain this advantage is through the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) — microscopic “packages” that send instructions to other cells, encouraging tumor growth, immune evasion, and drug resistance. Targeting these EVs could disrupt cancer’s ability to spread. Current EV inhibitors, however, are unsafe or ineffective. Dr. Sipione’s team has discovered a new substance that can significantly reduce EV secretion in cancer cells. This project will test whether blocking EVs with this substance can limit breast cancer growth and metastasis, with the goal of laying the groundwork for a new class of cancer treatments.
Phytoglycogen-dsRNA Nanoparticles: A Novel Therapeutic Approach for Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system, largely because it is often diagnosed at advanced stages when survival rates are very low. A promising new approach to treatment involves drugs that stimulate the immune system to attack cancer. One such drug type uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), but these molecules need a protective carrier to reach tumors effectively. Dr. Poynter’s team is developing nanophytoglycogen (NPG) — a material derived from sweetcorn — as a carrier for dsRNA. NPG can load large amounts of dsRNA, protect it, and enhance its activity inside cells. The project aims to optimize how NPG-dsRNA nanoparticles are made and then test the best formulations in animal models. If successful, this approach could lead to patents, commercialization, and ultimately a new glycogen-based immunotherapy that improves survival for ovarian cancer patients.
Role of PolySia in Cancer Immune Evasion
Despite advances in immunotherapies, many late-stage cancers continue to progress by escaping immune surveillance. One key factor in this process may be polysialic acid (polySia), a sugar molecule rarely found in healthy adult tissues but re-expressed in many cancers. High levels of polySia are linked with metastasis and poor prognosis. Dr. Willis’s project is investigating how polySia interacts with immune cells, non-immune cells, and tumor cells to support cancer progression. Using cutting-edge technologies, her team will map the role of polySia in cancer biology and uncover new opportunities to prevent tumors from evading the immune system. The findings could inform future therapies that improve survival for patients with advanced disease.
Modulating Immune Cell Glycosylation as a Strategy to Improve the Anti-Tumor Response
Immune cells are critical in recognizing and destroying cancer cells, and new treatments called immunotherapies boost this natural defense to fight cancer more effectively. Dr. Wisnovsky’s project focuses on a specific carbohydrate, polysialic acid (polySia), and its role in regulating how immune cells respond to tumors. By uncovering how polySia shapes immune activity, researchers aim to identify new biomarkers that can improve early detection and develop novel therapeutic targets for next-generation immunotherapies.
Regulating a Tumor-Specific Cell Surface Glycopeptide Epitope For Precision Immuno-Oncology
Metastasis, the spread of tumor cells to other parts of the body, is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Researchers have identified a protein called podocalyxin that appears on the surface of many tumor cells. When podocalyxin is decorated with altered sugars, it helps tumors spread more aggressively. Building on previous work that developed immune-based strategies to target these sugar changes, Dr. Roskelley’s project will identify the molecular regulators responsible for the alterations. The ultimate goal is to create highly precise therapies that can block metastasis while minimizing side effects, offering patients safer and more effective treatment options.
