Prostate cancer tumor-associated antigens and neoepitopes presented by autologous dendritic cells

Prostate cancer tumor-associated antigens and neoepitopes presented by autologous dendritic cells represents a personalized immunotherapy platform rather than a discrete molecular target. This approach utilizes the patient's own dendritic cells (DCs) as a vehicle to induce a systemic T-cell mediated immune response against specific prostate cancer markers (Tacken et al., 2007, Nat Rev Immunol). The DCs are typically pulsed with recombinant proteins like Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP), as seen with Sipuleucel-T, or with synthetic neoepitopes identified through genomic sequencing of the patient's tumor (Schumacher & Schreiber, 2015, Science). Upon re-infusion, these activated DCs migrate to lymphoid organs where they present the processed antigens to naive T cells via MHC molecules, leading to the expansion of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). While this strategy offers high specificity and a favorable safety profile compared to chemotherapy, its clinical impact has been modest, often attributed to the low mutational burden of prostate cancer and the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (Kantoff et al., 2010, NEJM). This therapeutic strategy is primarily investigated for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) where traditional therapies have failed (Figdor et al., 2004, Nat Med).

Other names

Dendritic cell-based prostate cancer vaccineAutologous DC immunotherapyTAA-loaded dendritic cellsNeoepitope-pulsed dendritic cells

Autologous dendritic cells are loaded with prostate cancer-specific antigens or neoepitopes; once re-infused, these cells present the antigens to T-lymphocytes, stimulating a cytotoxic T-cell response against prostate cancer cells (Kantoff et al., 2010, NEJM; Tacken et al., 2007, Nat Rev Immunol).