The characterization and role of leukemia cell-derived dendritic cells in immunotherapy for leukemic diseases

Usually, an effective anti-leukemia immune response cannot be initiated effectively in patients with leukemia. This is probably related to immunosuppression due to chemotherapy, down-regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II molecules, and the lack of co-stimulatory molecules on dendritic cells (DC). In light of this problem, some methods had been used to induce leukemia cells to differentiate into mature DCs, causing them to present leukemia-associated antigens and activating naïve T cells. Furthermore, leukemia-derived DCs could be modified with tumor antigens or tumor-associated antigens to provide a new approach to anti-leukemia therapy. Numerous studies have indicated factors related to the induction and functioning of leukemia-derived DCs and the activation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). These include the amount of purified DCs, cytokine profiles appropriate for inducing leukemia-derived DCs, effective methods of activating CTLs, reasonable approaches to DC vaccines, and the standardization of their clinical use. Determining these factors could lead to more effective leukemia treatment and benefit both mankind and scientific development. What follows in a review of advances in and practices of inducing leukemia-derived DCs and the feasibility of their clinical use.