alpha-fetoprotein peptide-pulsed dendritic cells

Alpha-fetoprotein peptide-pulsed dendritic cells is an investigational dendritic cell-based immunotherapy that involves generating autologous dendritic cells from a patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells, then ex vivo loading (pulsing) them with immunodominant peptides derived from alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a tumor-associated oncofetal antigen highly expressed in most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors[1][2][3]. The resulting vaccine is designed to stimulate AFP-specific cytotoxic T cell responses by presenting AFP antigenic epitopes via HLA class I molecules on mature dendritic cells, thereby priming and enhancing tumor-directed immune responses in patients with AFP-positive HCC[1][3]. Clinical testing (mainly in Phase I/II trials) has shown the approach can induce measurable immunologic responses without significant toxicity, but objective clinical responses have to date been limited[1][2]. The approach is under research mainly for HCC, especially in the setting of high-circulating AFP and minimal residual disease after primary treatment[1][2][3].

Other names

alpha-fetoprotein peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccineAFP peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccineAFP DC vaccine