autologous dendritic cell therapy (Mayo Clinic)

Autologous dendritic cell therapy developed by the Mayo Clinic is an investigational cellular immunotherapy for the treatment of advanced melanoma. The therapy involves the ex vivo maturation of a patient's own monocytes into dendritic cells (DCs), which are then administered via intratumoral injection. This procedure is typically performed following cryoablation of a tumor lesion, a process that induces local cell death and the release of tumor-associated antigens. The injected DCs capture these antigens and migrate to regional lymph nodes to prime and activate tumor-specific T cells, fostering a systemic anti-tumor immune response. In clinical settings, this approach is often evaluated in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab to enhance and sustain the immune response in patients who have previously failed standard checkpoint inhibitor therapies.

Other names

intratumoral autologous dendritic cell therapyMayo Clinic dendritic cell vaccine