Tumor-associated antigens resulting from aberrant glycosylation, such as the SialylTn carbohydrate antigen, are frequently over-expressed on cancer cells and provide potential targets for cancer vaccination. Immunization of Rhesus monkeys with SialylTn coupled to a highly immunogenic carrier molecule and formulated on aluminum hydroxide induced a strong immune response against the carrier protein but only a moderate IgM immune response against the SialylTn carbohydrate antigen. Co-formulation with QS-21 adjuvant dramatically enhanced the anti-SialylTn immune response and resulted in a SialylTn-specific IgG switch. The kinetics of the carbohydrate-specific IgG response correlated with a temporary release of cytokines such as IFNγ, IL-2, IL-1β, TNFα and GM-CSF which was measurable in the immune serum by xMAP Multiplex technology. Furthermore, tumor cell killing by activated natural killer cells was induced. These data demonstrate that immunization with a tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen in a highly immunogenic formulation results in a temporary release of type 1 cytokines which may be required for the induction of a specific IgG immune response against the carbohydrate antigen as well as for activation of effector cells against tumor cells.

A major limitation to the application of therapeutic IgG antibodies (Abs) is their reduced in vivo efficacy compared to their high efficacy as measured in vitro. Recently, Preithner et al. showed that the high amount of endogenous serum IgG impairs the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity effector function (ADCC) of therapeutic Abs in vivo by competing for binding to Fcgamma-RIII on the effector cells. Modification of the glycosylation moieties attached to the Fc part of the Ab, e.g. de-fucosylation, has been shown to increase ADCC activity. We here show that the ADCC activity of a fucose-deficient, moss-produced therapeutic IgG is not impaired by normal human serum. The increased ADCC activity of the fucose-deficient Ab variant even in the presence of high endogenous IgG indicates that glyco-engineering of Abs may translate into improved clinical efficacy. Noteworthy, moss production of glyco-modified Abs should be applicable to a broad variety of therapeutic Abs currently in use indicative for the potential of this technology platform.