There are physical receptors (glycoproteins) on cells. Communication takes place within the body if sugars (glycans) are in the correct place on these cell surface sugar antennas. For example, the hormone insulin can dock on specific insulin cell receptors and communicate to the cell the need to take in glucose from the blood and use it for energy. Miscommunication can take place if there is not enough insulin or if the cell receptors are not built correctly (glycans are not in place). ​

Standard cancer treatments are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The success rates for these protocols are pretty dismal. A promising new treatment approach involves the science of glycobiology. It is called immunotherapy and the goal is to enlist the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. Natural, alternative treatment approaches have always employed this approach but to see it from the medical community is encouraging even though it is a synthetic, genetically engineered approach.