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Review
. 2022 Dec 26;15(1):138.
doi: 10.3390/cancers15010138.

Post-Translational Modifications in Tumor-Associated Antigens as a Platform for Novel Immuno-Oncology Therapies

Anurag Kumar Srivastava  1   2 , Giorgia Guadagnin  1   2 , Paola Cappello  1   2 , Francesco Novelli  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Post-Translational Modifications in Tumor-Associated Antigens as a Platform for Novel Immuno-Oncology Therapies

Anurag Kumar Srivastava et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are generated by adding small chemical groups to amino acid residues after the translation of proteins. Many PTMs have been reported to correlate with tumor progression, growth, and survival by modifying the normal functions of the protein in tumor cells. PTMs can also elicit humoral and cellular immune responses, making them attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy. This review will discuss how the acetylation, citrullination, and phosphorylation of proteins expressed by tumor cells render the corresponding tumor-associated antigen more antigenic and affect the immune response in multiple cancers. In addition, the role of glycosylated protein mucins in anti-cancer immunotherapy will be considered. Mucin peptides in combination with stimulating adjuvants have, in fact, been utilized to produce anti-tumor antibodies and vaccines. Finally, we will also outline the results of the clinical trial exploiting glycosylated-MUC1 as a vaccine in different cancers. Overall, PTMs in TAAs could be considered in future therapies to result in lasting anti-tumor responses.

Keywords: acetylation; cancer immunotherapy; citrullination; glycosylation; phosphorylation; post-translational modifications; tumor-associated antigens.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the acetylation process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of citrullination.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic representation of phosphorylation on multiple amino acids.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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