Dendritic cell fusion vaccines for cancer immunotherapy

The use of tumour vaccines is being explored as a means of generating effective antitumour immune responses in patients with cancer. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells that are essential for initiating primary immune responses. As such, DCs are being studied as a p-latform for the design of cancer vaccines. DCs loaded with tumour antigens or whole tumour cell derivatives stimulate tumour-specific immunity. A p-romising vaccine strategy involves the fusion of DCs with whole tumour cells. DC/tumour fusions express a broad array of tumour antigens, including those yet to be identified, in the context of DC-mediated costimulation. An-imal models have demonstrated that vaccination with fusion cells is p-rotective against tumour challenge and results in the regression of es-tablished metastatic disease. In vitro human studies have demonstrated that DC/tumour fusions potently stimulate antitumour immunity and lysis of autologous tumour cells. Vaccination of cancer patients with DC/tumour fusions is being studied in Phase I/II clinical trials. Preliminary results demonstrate that generation of a vaccine is feasible and that vaccination is associated with minimal toxicity. Immunological and clinical responses have been found in a subset of patients.