Thomsen-Friedenreich Antigen

**Semantic type:** Immunologic Factor|Organic Chemical

**Definition:** A type 1 core O-glycan with potential immunotherapeutic property. Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen, a galactose disaccharide, is normally O-linked to serine or threonine residue of mucins (MUC1), a transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed on epithelial cell surface of a variety of tumor cells. The expression of this antigen is associated with tumor cell adhesion, tissue invasion and aggressiveness. When administered in a vaccine formulation, TF antigen may stimulate a cytotoxic T cell response against tumors expressing TF epitope, which may result in a reduction in tumor size.

**Synonyms:** - Antigen, Thomsen-Friedenreich - TF(c)