Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising ?-Gal BOEL for use in treating patients with tumors. The invention also relates to methods of treating tumors using said compositions. The invention discloses that following intratumoral injection of ?-Gal BOEL, binding of the natural anti-Gal antibody to de novo expressed tumoral ?-Gal epitopes induces inflammation resulting in an anti-Gal antibody mediated opsonization of tumor cells and their uptake by antigen presenting cells. These antigen presenting cells migrate to draining lymph nodes and activate tumor specific T cells thereby converting the treated tumor lesions into in situ autologous tumor vaccines. This therapy can be applied to patients with multiple lesions and in neo-adjuvant therapy to patients before tumor resection. In addition to the regression and/or destruction of the treated tumor, such a vaccine will help in the immune mediated destruction of micrometastases that are not detectable during the removal of the treated tumor.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising ?-Gal BOEL for use in treating patients with tumors. The invention also relates to methods of treating tumours using said compositions. The invention discloses that following intratumoral injection of ?-Gal BOEL, binding of the natural anti-Gal antibody to de novo expressed tumoural ?-Gal epitopes induces inflammation resulting in an anti-Gal antibody mediated opsonization of tumour cells and their uptake by antigen presenting cells. These antigen presenting cells migrate to draining lymph nodes and activate tumour specific T cells thereby converting the treated tumour lesions into in situ autologous tumour vaccines. This therapy can be applied to patients with multiple lesions and in neo-adjuvant therapy to patients before tumour resection.