Many strategies are sought for the development of cancer vaccines.Carbohydrate-based strategy is a new and emerging approach that is about to deliver.Over the past decade, several major developments in chemical synthesis and manipulation of complex carbohydrates have made these complex structures available in pure forms.This has re-opened the door for the systematic study towards the optimization of carbohydrate-based cancer vaccines.Cancer is heterogeneous within a single patient and even within a single organ.Heterogeneity manifests itself in many ways.In addition to disruption of signaling pathways, the complex carbohydrates that are displayed at the cell membrane are also severely affected.Some carbohydrates are over-expressed in certain cancers more than others, while others are under-or over-processed.Challenging the immune system with these aberrant carbohydrate motifs seems to be a promising strategy.