Overview
- Researchers report in Cancer Research that pancreatic tumors use sialic-acid–coated glycoproteins to engage Siglec-10 on immune cells and suppress attack.
- Siglec-10 binding was mapped to CD24 and the α3β1 integrin subunits ITGA3 and ITGB1 on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells.
- A monoclonal antibody that blocks Siglec-10 restored macrophage phagocytosis and slowed tumor growth in lab assays and two mouse models, including human xenografts.
- Higher tumor sialylation correlated with more aggressive disease features and worse survival in patient datasets.
- The team is optimizing the antibody for human use, testing combinations with chemo and immunotherapy, and developing a companion diagnostic, with an estimated multi-year path to potential patient availability.