Ex vivo pulsed dendritic cell vaccination against cancer

• Published in: Acta pharmacologica Sinica Vol. 41; no. 7; pp. 959 - 969
• Main Authors: Gu, Yang-zhuo, Zhao, Xing, Song, Xiang-rong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.07.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Antigen-presenting cells; Antigens; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer immunotherapy; Cancer Vaccines - immunology; Clinical trials; Dendritic cells; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Humans; Immunization; Immunology; Immunotherapy; Internal Medicine; Lymphocytes; Medical Microbiology; mRNA; mRNA vaccines; Neoplasms - immunology; Neoplasms - therapy; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Review; Review Article; Vaccine; Vaccines; mRNA-pulsed DC vaccines; dendritic cells; cancer immunotherapy; DC vaccination; tumor microenvironment; cancer antigens; T-cell activation
• ISSN: 1671-4083; 1745-7254
• DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-0415-5

As the most powerful antigen-presenting cell type, dendritic cells (DCs) can induce potent antigen-specific immune responses in vivo, hence becoming optimal cell population for vaccination purposes. DCs can be derived ex vivo in quantity and manipulated extensively to be endowed with adequate immune-stimulating capacity. After pulsing with cancer antigens in various ways, the matured DCs are administrated back into the patient. DCs home to lymphoid organs to present antigens to and activate specific lymphocytes that react to a given cancer. Ex vivo pulsed DC vaccines have been vigorously investigated for decades, registering encouraging results in relevant immunotherapeutic clinical trials, while facing some solid challenges. With more details in DC biology understood, new theory proposed, and novel technology introduced (featuring recently emerged mRNA vaccine technology), it is becoming increasingly likely that ex vivo pulsed DC vaccine will fulfill its potential in cancer immunotherapy.