Molecular mimicry between parasites and cancer - a novel approach for developing cancer vaccines and therapeutic antibodies

Sep 23, 2026

Study investigates molecular mimicry shared between selected parasites and cancer cell lines as a route toward cancer vaccine and therapeutic antibody development. Polyclonal antisera were generated in rabbits against Trichinella spiralis, Schistosoma mansoni, and Toxoplasma gondii, then antibody reactivity was tested on MCF-7 breast cancer and A549 lung cancer extracts using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Cross-reactive protein bands were observed for T. spiralis and S. mansoni, while T. gondii showed no reactivity. Findings support further identification and characterization of cross-reactive antigens for cancer immunotherapy.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

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Abstract

Keywords and Abbreviations

Introduction

Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy (2025) 74:212 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04069-1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-025-04069-1) Molecular mimicry between parasites and cancer: a novel approach for developing cancer vaccines and therapeutic antibodies Maha Mohamed Eissa1 · Sonia Rifaat Ahmed Allam1 · Cherine Adel Ismail2 · Rasha Abdelmawla Ghazala3 · Nahla El Skhawy1 · Eman Ibrahim El‑said Ibrahim1 Received: 27 February 2025 / Accepted: 26 April 2025 / Published online: 22 May 2025 © The Author(s) 2025 Abstract Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases worldwide. Conventional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have limitations and adverse effects. Cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapies offer new treatment options. Parasite-based cancer therapy shows promise in fighting tumors. Some parasites have anti-cancer properties through multimechanistic strategies, with the molecular mimicry theory as a leading explanation for parasites’ anti-cancer effects. This study aimed to explore the existence of shared antigenic proteins between parasites (Trichinella spiralis, Schistosoma mansoni, and Toxoplasma gondii) and cancer cell lines (MCF-7 human breast cancer and A549 human lung cancer) . Polyclonal antisera against T. spiralis, S. mansoni, and T. gondii parasites were generated in rabbits. Antibody reactivity with extracts of MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells was detected using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Results documented the molecular mimicry between parasites and cancers as it revealed cross-reactive bands when using T. spiralis antibodies against MCF-7 and A549 cancer cell extracts at approximate molecular weights of 70 and 35 kDa, and with S. mansoni antibodies at an approximate molecular weight of 80 kDa. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies neither reacted with MCF-7 human breast cancer nor A549 human lung cancer cell extracts. Results of this study could establish a foundation for subsequent investigation among a broad range of parasites for molecular mimicry with cancers. Identification, molecular characterization, and investigation of the anti-neoplastic activity of these cross-reactive antigens could shed light on new pathways for the potential development of a novel class of innovative cancer vaccine candidates and therapeutic antibodies of parasitic origin for cancer immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Keywords Parasites · Cancer · Molecular mimicry · Cancer therapy Abbreviations ADCC ASmA ATgA ATsA B. jellisoni Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity Autoclaved S. mansoni cercarial antigen Autoclaved T. gondii tachyzoites antigen Autoclaved T. spiralis larval antigen Besnoitiajellisoni * Eman Ibrahim El-said Ibrahim [eman.ibrahim1812@alexmed.edu.eg](eman.ibrahim1812@alexmed.edu.eg) 1 Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Al-Moassat Medical Campus, Alexandria, Egypt 2 Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt 3 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt C. sinensis E. granulosus FDA FCA HSP HER-2 LL N. caninum NF-κB O. viverrini PBS RIPA S. equina S. haematobium S. mansoni SDS-PAGE Clonorchis sinensis Echinococcus granulosus Food and drug administration Freund's complete adjuvant Heat shock protein Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 Lewis lung Neospora caninum Nuclear factor kappa BOpisthorchis viverrini Phosphate buffer saline Radioimmunoprecipitation assay buffer Setaria equina Schistosoma haematobium Schistosoma mansoni Sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis STn Spp TF Tk Tn T. cruzi T. spiralis T. gondii TAAs TSAs WHO Sialyl-Tn Species Thomsen Friedenreich Thymidine kinase N-acetylgalactosamine O-serine/ threonine Trypanosoma cruzi Trichinella spiralis Toxoplasma gondii Tumor-associated antigens Tumor-specific antigens World Health

FAQs

What is the main goal of this study?

To explore whether shared antigenic proteins exist between specific parasites and cancer cell lines, supporting molecular mimicry as a basis for cancer vaccine and therapeutic antibody development.

Which parasite-antibody results showed cross-reactivity with cancer cell extracts?

Trichinella spiralis and Schistosoma mansoni antibodies produced cross-reactive bands with MCF-7 and/or A549 extracts at approximate molecular weights of 70/35 kDa and 80 kDa, respectively.

Did Toxoplasma gondii antibodies react with the cancer cell lines tested?

No. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies did not react with MCF-7 breast cancer or A549 lung cancer cell extracts.

Sep 23, 2026

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