Bystander-Based Autologous Tumor Cell Vaccine

This is an experimental autologous tumor cell vaccine developed by the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute for the treatment of malignant melanoma. The vaccine is composed of irradiated autologous tumor cells harvested from the patient, which are mixed with a universal bystander cell line (GM.CD40L). These bystander cells are genetically engineered to express both granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and CD40 ligand (CD40L). The mechanism of action involves the recruitment and activation of dendritic cells at the injection site, which then process tumor antigens from the autologous cells to stimulate a systemic, tumor-specific T-cell immune response. This approach avoids the need to genetically modify each patient's individual tumor cells, instead utilizing a standardized engineered cell line to provide necessary immunostimulatory signals.

Other names

Autologous tumor cell vaccine with GM.CD40L bystander cells