Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
08:40
Preparation of Tumor Antigen-loaded Mature Dendritic Cells for Immunotherapy
Published on: August 1, 2013
Dendritic cells: potential role in cancer therapy
1Stanford Medical School Blood Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
Cytotechnology
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Dendritic cell (DC) vaccines pulsed with tumor proteins stimulate T cell immunity against B cell lymphoma. This immunotherapy approach showed promise, with some patients experiencing tumor regression, suggesting potential for other cancers.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells crucial for initiating T cell responses.
- In vitro studies demonstrate human DCs can stimulate antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.
- DCs present antigens to T cells, bridging innate and adaptive immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of ex vivo-pulsed dendritic cells (DCs) as a vaccine for stimulating anti-tumor immunity.
- To evaluate the potential of DC-based immunotherapy in patients with relapsed B cell lymphoma.
Main Methods:
- Dendritic cells (DCs) were isolated from peripheral blood.
- DCs were pulsed ex vivo with tumor-associated idiotype proteins.
- Pulsed DCs were re-infused into patients with low-grade malignant B cell lymphoma.
Main Results:
- The majority of treated patients developed T cell-mediated anti-idiotype immune responses.
- Some patients experienced significant tumor regression following DC immunotherapy.
- The treatment was investigated in patients who had failed conventional chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy is a potentially effective approach for B cell lymphoma.
- This strategy may offer a novel therapeutic option for various types of cancer.
- Further research is warranted to explore the broader applications of DC immunotherapy.
Related Concept Videos
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
02:40Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance
Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their access...
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...