Advances in MUC1-Mediated Breast Cancer Immunotherapy

Biomolecules. 2022 Jul 6;12(7):952. doi: 10.3390/biom12070952.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BRCA) is the leading cause of death from malignant tumors among women. Fortunately, however, immunotherapy has recently become a prospective BRCA treatment with encouraging achievements and mild safety profiles. Since the overexpression and aberrant glycosylation of MUC1 (human mucin) are closely associated with BRCA, it has become an ideal target for BRCA immunotherapies. In this review, the structure and function of MUC1 are briefly introduced, and the main research achievements in different kinds of MUC1-mediated BRCA immunotherapy are highlighted, from the laboratory to the clinic. Afterward, the future directions of MUC1-mediated BRCA immunotherapy are predicted, addressing, for example, urgent issues in regard to how efficient immunotherapeutic strategies can be generated.

Keywords: MUC1; breast cancer; immunotherapy; mucin; target.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Female
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mucin-1 / metabolism
  • Mucins
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • MUC1 protein, human
  • Mucin-1
  • Mucins

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of CHINA (grant number 81571797), the Social Development Plan of Taizhou, China (TS202004), the Natural Science Foundation of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China (XZR2020093), and Taizhou People’s Hospital Medical Innovation Team Foundation (CXTDA201901).