The name Tacalyx is derived from TACA (Tumor Associated Carbohydrate Antigen) and ‘lyx’ from the term Glycocalyx, the glycan-containing layer covering cells.
Cancer cells differ from normal cells by displaying aberrant carbohydrate structures on their surfaces promoting metastasis, angiogenesis or suppression of the immune system.
TACAs result from the aberrant glycosylation that is seen with transformation to a tumor cell and represent attractive targets for cancer treatment since they are displayed with high cancer specificity and enhance tumor virulence via the mentioned diverse mechanisms.