Current issues in dendritic cell cancer immunotherapy

Curr Opin Mol Ther. 2002 Feb;4(1):54-63.

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) initiate and direct the immune response. Their inability to detect danger signals from transformed cells and to generate an effective immunological response may allow cells with a malignant phenotype to evolve into cancers. This defect can be corrected for many cancer types and the immune response boosted to eliminate malignant cells by means of DC-based vaccines/therapies. Rapid advances in our understanding of basic DC physiology and improved methods for DC isolation have made clinical application of DC therapy practical, and encouraging phase I/II results are emerging.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / administration & dosage
  • Blood Cells / immunology
  • Cell Movement
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Dendritic Cells / classification
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD34
  • Antigens, Neoplasm