Recent clinical development of dendritic cell-based immunotherapy for prostate cancer

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most powerful immune cells that present antigens to T cells, resulting in a T cell response. Therapeutic strategies involving DCs have been explored in many malignancies, including prostate cancer. These strategies are designed to stimulate DC proliferation, promote antigen uptake and processing by DCs, or to directly provide antigen-loaded DCs. All approaches are designed to stimulate an antitumour T cell response leading to clinical benefit. Many approaches in prostate cancer have demonstrated successful induction of the desired immune response. Clinical effect has also been observed, prompting larger definitive trials.