Mucins as immunogenic targets in cancer

Abnormal mucins are overexpressed by many malignant adenocarcinomas. The va riation in their expression and glycosylation makes certain immunodominant peptide core epitopes available for immunological recognition. We reviewed the structural differences between "native" mucins and those detected on ma lignant cells, a knowledge of which would aid in the design of better anti- mucin vaccines for rise in several carcinomas. We also considered the chara cter of inducible anti-MUC1 immune responses reported from recent animal ex periments as well as the role of MUC1-transgenic animal models in understan ding mucin immunoreactivity. We concluded that the provocation of an anti-M UC1 immune response may be used for the development of a vaccine strategy, which holds promise for therapeutic antineoplastic interventions.