Dendritic cell immunotherapy for melanoma.
Dendritic cells (DC) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that initiate T cell-mediated immune responses against cancer. It has been almost a decade since the first trial of DC-based cancer immunotherapy was published. Despite the many clinical trials conducted since, few solid conclusions have been reached, and no specific-immunotherapy has routinely demonstrated meaningful anti-tumour responses. Clinical-grade DC can be obtained from three distinct cell populations in the blood - monocytes, CD34(+) progenitors or direct isolation of circulating blood DC. This review discusses the science behind DC-based cancer immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on the use of monocyte-derived DC in melanoma clinical trials, and the various potential avenues for improvement of patient clinical response rates.
Peng
Judy C
JC
Centre for Immunology and Cancer Research, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland 4102, Australia.
Thomas
Ranjeny
R
Dredge
Keith
K
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000628:therapy*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*