Patient-specific tumor antigens presented on autologous dendritic cells (DCV)

Patient-specific tumor antigens presented on autologous dendritic cells represent a personalized immunotherapy approach designed to stimulate a robust, tumor-specific T-cell response. In this strategy, dendritic cells (DCs) are harvested from a patient, matured ex vivo, and loaded with antigens derived from the patient's own tumor, such as neoantigens or whole-tumor lysates (NCI, 2023). These primed dendritic cells are then re-infused into the patient, where they migrate to lymphoid organs and present the processed antigens to naive T-cells via MHC molecules (PubMed, 2021). This interaction triggers the expansion of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) capable of recognizing and eliminating cancer cells expressing those specific antigens (Nature Reviews Cancer, 2022). This approach addresses the heterogeneity of tumors by targeting the unique mutational profile of an individual's cancer. Clinical applications include treatments for melanoma, glioblastoma, and prostate cancer, with the goal of establishing long-term immunological memory against recurrence (StatPearls, 2023).

Other names

Autologous dendritic cell vaccinePersonalized neoantigen-pulsed dendritic cellsTumor-lysate-loaded dendritic cellsDC-based immunotherapyPersonalized cancer vaccine

Autologous dendritic cells are loaded with patient-specific tumor antigens (neoantigens or lysates) ex vivo and re-infused to present these antigens via MHC molecules to T-cells, thereby inducing a targeted anti-tumor immune response.