The LUMC’s Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics (CPM) has received a large grant from Health~Holland. They will use this to conduct research into the influence of glycans on colon cancer cells, with the aim of developing diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies against these glycans.
Manfred Wuhrer is professor of proteomics and glycomics and head of the CPM. Wuhrer’s research group studies complex sugars: glycans. The aim of the research is to develop diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies against these glycans. Because the glycans occur specifically on tumors and not on healthy tissue, it is probably possible to develop a treatment with a high dose, long duration and with fewer side effects.
The CPM receives a 500,000 euro grant from Health~Holland for the research they will carry out in collaboration with Tacalyx, a private biotech company. The company will use the glycan structures identified by the CPM for the development of the new antibodies. The ultimate goal is that the new insights into the so-called O-glycans of colorectal cancer can also be applied to other forms of cancer. By extending the analyzes to other cancer types, the full potential of glycans as targets for antibodies can be exploited.
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