Targeting Tumor Cells by Natural Anti-Carbohydrate Antibodies Using Rhamnose-Functionalized Liposomes

Recruitment of antibodies in human immune systems for targeted destruction of tumor cells has emerged as an exciting area of research due to its low occurrence of side effects, high efficacy, and high specificity. The presence of large amounts of anticarbohydrate natural antibodies in human sera has prompted research efforts to utilize carbohydrate epitopes for immune recruitment. Here, we have developed a general strategy for specific targeted destruction of tumor cells based on rhamnose-functionalized liposomes. Tumor cells artificially decorated with rhamnose epitopes were subjected to complement-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro and showed delayed tumor growth in vivo. This study highlights the therapeutic potential for activation of endogenous immune response through cell-surface glycan engineering.