Funded by CCLG
Lead investigator: Dr Alistair Easton, University of Southampton
Award: £9855.42
Funded April 2017
Gangliosides are sugars found on a number of aggressive childhood cancers, including neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma. We have found that a ganglioside called GD2 inhibits the immune system. There are a number of possible ways this can happen, and the leading idea is that GD2 binds to a 'receptor' (a type of protein) on the surface of cells, called Siglecs.
The aim of this project is to show whether GD2 binding Siglecs are present on immune cells within the tumour. It will also show if these Siglecs are capable of binding to the tumour itself. The study will also show if antibodies designed to target GD2 are also interfering with GD2 binding to Siglecs. This will generate important data for further investigations into an anitbody treatment.