Definition

An orally bioavailable therapeutic vaccine consisting of the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) oligosaccharide antigen sialyl Lewis A (CA19-9; sialylated Lewis A antigen; carbohydrate antigen 19-9; cancer antigen 19-9), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon oral administration, oral therapeutic vaccine V3-X induces a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response against tumor cells expressing CA19-9. CA19-9 is an antigen that is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cell types, and plays a key role in tumor cell survival and metastasis.