Publications
ThesisJan 2025

Therapeutic Sialidase Conjugates Targeting the Glyco-Immune Axis in Cancer

Garabedian, BM
Product Used
Genes
Abstract
Sialic acid containing glycans (sialoglycans) regulate tumor immunity by recruiting inhibitory Siglec receptors and suppressing leukocyte activation (Figure 1a). These glycans function alongside immune checkpoints such as PD1 and hypoxia-induced acidosis, collectively promoting immune evasion and therapeutic resistance (Figure 1a,b). Combination therapies simultaneously targeting these distinctly immunosuppressive axes thus represents a promising strategy to treat refractory cancers. This thesis explores two therapeutic strategies utilizing sialidase conjugates to specifically disrupt sialoglycan-mediated immunosuppression. First, I developed anti-PD1 antibody-sialidase conjugates (αPD1-S), selectively targeting PD1-expressing immune cells. Glycan profiling confirmed effective desialylation, while functional assays revealed enhanced T cell activation and cytotoxicity. In melanoma models, αPD1-S promoted inflammatory macrophage polarization, reduced T cell exhaustion, and restricted tumor growth compared to the current standard of care. Complementarily, I targeted sialoglycans on hypoxis tumors cells by engineering sialidase conjugates linked to carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) inhibitors (CAIXi-S). Structural and biochemical analyses validated CAIXi-S stability and dual functionality. These conjugates effectively reduced hypersialylation and enhanced antigen-specific T cell cytotoxicity. In triplenegative breast cancer models, CAIXi-S induced robust tumor regression, durable protective immunity, and favorable immune remodeling characterized by decreased T cell exhaustion and increased pro-inflammatory myeloid infiltration. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic potential of sialoglycan removal from tumors and their resident immune cells.
Product Used
Genes

Related Publications