Leveraging fluorinated glucosamine action to boost antitumor immunity

► Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is commonly expressed at a high level by tumor cells and causes immune suppression of antitumor T cells. ► Gal-1-Gal-1-binding carbohydrate interactions play a pivotal role in shaping the effector function of antitumor T cells. ► Gal-1-binding carbohydrates, known as N-acetyllactosaminyl glycans, are targetable entities on antitumor T cells. ► Fluorinated glucosamine analogs are effective metabolic inhibitors of N-acetyllactosamine formation. ► Glucosamine analogs are effective agents for thwarting Gal-1-mediated immune suppression of effector anti-tumor T cells.