onco-peptide loaded autologous dendritic cells (Herlev Hospital)

This is an autologous dendritic cell-based cancer vaccine developed at Herlev Hospital's Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The therapy involves harvesting a patient's own monocytes, which are then differentiated into dendritic cells (DCs) ex vivo using cytokines such as IL-4 and GM-CSF. These DCs are subsequently pulsed with a cocktail of HLA-A2-binding 'onco-peptides' derived from three major tumor-associated antigens: p53 (including both wild-type and modified sequences), survivin, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The mature, antigen-loaded dendritic cells are administered subcutaneously, often in conjunction with low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) acting as an adjuvant. The mechanism of action relies on the dendritic cells presenting these tumor antigens to the patient's T-cells, thereby priming and expanding a tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response designed to recognize and destroy breast cancer cells expressing these antigens.

Other names

Autologous Dendritic Cell Vaccine (Herlev Hospital)p53/survivin/telomerase-pulsed dendritic cell vaccineCCIT-DC vaccine