KLH-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine (University of Michigan)

The KLH-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine is an autologous cellular immunotherapy developed by the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. The vaccine consists of patient-derived dendritic cells (DCs) that are pulsed with Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH), a highly immunogenic carrier protein that acts as an adjuvant to enhance the immune response. In the clinical trial setting, this vaccine is administered via intra-tumoral injection into a hepatic metastasis following a short course of radiation therapy. The radiation is intended to induce immunogenic cell death, releasing tumor-associated antigens that the injected dendritic cells can capture, process, and present to T cells. This approach aims to stimulate a systemic anti-tumor immune response, potentially leading to the regression of both the injected tumor and distant, non-irradiated metastatic lesions (the abscopal effect).

Other names

KLH-pulsed DC vaccineDendritic cell vaccinationKLH-pulsed dendritic cellsDC Vaccine + Radiation in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer