In situ conversion of tumors into autologous tumor-associated antigen vaccines by intratumoral injection of α-gal glycolipids

The immunogenicity of autologous tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) is markedly increased upon the intratumoral injection of α-gal glycolipids, which insert into tumor cell membranes. The binding of natural anti-Gal antibodies to these glycolipids activates the complement system and recruits antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which internalize anti-Gal-coated tumor cells upon Fc/FcγR interactions. Eventually, TAA-derived peptides presented by APCs activate a T cell-mediated tumor-specific immune response.