activated dendritic cells

Activated dendritic cells are a form of cell-based immunotherapy that leverages the body's immune system to fight cancer. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen-presenting cells that play a pivotal role in initiating and regulating immune responses. In this therapeutic approach, dendritic cells are typically isolated from a patient's blood, activated and loaded with tumor antigens ex vivo, and then reintroduced into the patient to stimulate T cell responses against cancer cells. The process involves collecting monocytes (DC precursors) from the patient's blood, differentiating them into dendritic cells, exposing them to tumor antigens (either as peptides, tumor lysates, or through genetic modification), and then injecting them back into the patient where they can present these antigens to T cells and initiate an anti-tumor immune response. Some approaches also involve direct intratumoral injection of genetically modified dendritic cells to enhance local immune responses.

Brand names

DCVax-L

Other names

dendritic cell vaccineDC vaccineDOC1021DOC-1021DOC 1021