Dendritic Cells Therapy: A Breakthrough in Immunotherapy for Cancer
Dendritic cell therapy represents a groundbreaking advancement in cancer treatment, offering new hope for improved survival rates in patients with advanced stages. This innovative systemic therapy simultaneously targets all tumors in the body and seamlessly integrates with most standard treatment protocols. In specialized clinics across developed countries, dendritic cells therapy has already proven successful in creating personalized anti-cancer vaccines.
Understanding Dendritic Cells
DCs are antigen-presenting cells that are responsible for the modulation of the immune response. They are the first to encounter antigens that are too large for T-cells to recognize. DCs capture these antigens, break them down, and then perform antigen presentation to T-cells piece by piece. Following this presentation, cytotoxic cells can attack the tumor.
The body contains several types of dendritic cells performing various functions. Some stimulate the immune response, while others suppress it. This versatility makes DCs applicable in many medical fields, with their most widespread use being in cancer treatment. The application of activated DC vaccines enables the stimulation of anti-tumor responses.
Principles of Dendritic Cell Therapy
The treatment essence lies in creating a personalized vaccine consisting of mature, activated dendritic cells.
The process begins with collecting approximately 100ml of the patient’s blood. Monocytes are isolated from this blood sample and transformed into DCs. These cells undergo cultivation and activation. Tumor antigens, either standardized or derived from the patient’s tumor tissue (obtained through biopsy or surgical removal), are added to the culture medium.
The maturation of dendritic cells and cancer vaccine creation takes several weeks. A portion of the vaccine is administered through injection subcutaneously, while the remaining cells undergo cryopreservation (freezing) for future use.
Following subcutaneous injection, DCs facilitate body immunization. They migrate to lymph nodes where they encounter T-cells, transferring information about tumor antigens. This activates cytotoxic cells, which can now better recognize and actively attack the tumor. As a result of this immunotherapy, all tumor sites in the body, including metastases, shrink simultaneously.
Advantages of Dendritic Cell Vaccines
Treatment with dendritic cells offers numerous benefits:
- Innovative methodology improving tumor process control
- Complementary to standard treatment, enhancing outcomes
- Compatibility with most cancer treatments, including other types of immune therapy
- Low toxicity
- Short treatment duration: patients don’t require lengthy hospital stays
- Personalized treatment: vaccines are developed individually for each patient, enabling targeted tumor impact
Given these numerous advantages and demonstrated positive results across many cancer types, this form of anti-cancer vaccines is associated with anticipated significant improvements in life expectancy for patients with late-stage cancer.
Applications of Dendritic Cells
Like most novel treatments, DCs are primarily used in:
- Advanced cancer stages
- Cancer cases resistant to other treatments
- Cancer recurrence
The number of cancers treated with DCs continues to grow. The first dendritic cell vaccine for prostate cancer received approval in 2010. Since then, numerous other vaccines have been developed, which, while not yet approved, have shown promising results in clinical trials.
For those interested in dendritic cell therapy abroad, Booking Health provides comprehensive information about specialized clinics utilizing this innovative immunotherapy technique with excellent outcomes. Through the Booking Health website, patients can select clinics, check prices, schedule appointments at convenient dates, and receive assistance with international medical travel arrangements. If you need help choosing a medical center, submit a request on the website. A representative will contact you within 24 hours to discuss dendritic cell treatment options abroad.
