OncoImmunology (Dec 2022)

Trial watch: Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy for cancer

  • Raquel S Laureano,
  • Jenny Sprooten,
  • Isaure Vanmeerbeerk,
  • Daniel M Borras,
  • Jannes Govaerts,
  • Stefan Naulaerts,
  • Zwi N Berneman,
  • Benoit Beuselinck,
  • Kalijn F Bol,
  • Jannie Borst,
  • an Coosemans,
  • Angeliki Datsi,
  • Jitka Fučíková,
  • Lisa Kinget,
  • Bart Neyns,
  • Gerty Schreibelt,
  • Evelien Smits,
  • Rüdiger V Sorg,
  • Radek Spisek,
  • Kris Thielemans,
  • Sandra Tuyaerts,
  • Steven De Vleeschouwer,
  • I Jolanda M de Vries,
  • Yanling Xiao,
  • Abhishek D Garg

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/2162402X.2022.2096363
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1

Abstract

Read online

Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination for cancer treatment has seen considerable development over recent decades. However, this field is currently in a state of flux toward niche-applications, owing to recent paradigm-shifts in immuno-oncology mobilized by T cell-targeting immunotherapies. DC vaccines are typically generated using autologous (patient-derived) DCs exposed to tumor-associated or -specific antigens (TAAs or TSAs), in the presence of immunostimulatory molecules to induce DC maturation, followed by reinfusion into patients. Accordingly, DC vaccines can induce TAA/TSA-specific CD8+/CD4+ T cell responses. Yet, DC vaccination still shows suboptimal anti-tumor efficacy in the clinic. Extensive efforts are ongoing to improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of DC vaccines, often by employing combinatorial chemo-immunotherapy regimens. In this Trial Watch, we summarize the recent preclinical and clinical developments in this field and discuss the ongoing trends and future perspectives of DC-based immunotherapy for oncological indications.

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