title: The use of dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy.
abstract: A novel approach to vaccination against cancer is to exploit dendritic cells (DCs) as "nature's adjuvants" and actively immunize cancer patients with a sample of their own DCs primed with tumor antigens. DC vaccination is, however, still at an early stage, slowed in part by the need to carry out research in humans. Nevertheless, valuable proofs of concept have been obtained with respect to the capacity of DCs to expand cancer-directed immune responses. The methods for preparing DCs are being improved continuously, and there are many opportunities to improve efficacy at the level of DC biology. An increased number of Phase I, II and III studies will drive this new area of human research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Erlangen, Hartmannstrasse 14, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany. gerold.schuler@derma.imed.uni-erlangen.de
authors.forename: Gerold
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schuler-Thurner
authors.forename: Ralph M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Steinman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D015166:Monitoring, Immunologic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines