Research Abstract
Antitumor Activity of Soluble Beta-1,3/1,6 Glucans: Structure Matters
N. Bose, ASH. Chan, ME. Danielson, N. Elmasry, , KB. Gorden, M. Griggs-LeRoux, FO. Guerrero, A. Magee, CM. Maristany, RM. Walsh, PM. Will, LR. Wurst, & JP. Vasilakos • Biothera, 3388 Mike Collins Dr, Eagan, MN 55121
Frontiers in Basic Immunology 2009, Bethesda, MD. Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.
β-glucan is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognized by a variety of innate immune cells. β-1,3/1,6 glucans possess numerous immune potentiating activities. In particular, antitumor activity has been demonstrated with the soluble β-1,3/1,6 glucan Imprime PGG® used in combination with complement-activating antitumor monoclonal antibodies (MAb) in several tumor models. β-1,3/1,6 glucans can be derived from various sources and structurally can vary on the basis of chain length, branching frequency, branch length, and tertiary structure. Previously, the antitumor activity of soluble β-1,3/1,6 glucans in combination with antitumor MAb has only been reported using beta glucans derived from yeast. The objective of this study is to compare the antitumor activity of three structurally distinct soluble β-1,3/1,6 glucans in vivo in a mouse lymphoma model. In addition, critical innate immune cells responsible for antitumor activity will be identified, and characterization of relevant human immune cells and their β-glucan receptors will be shown.