Dendritic Cell Therapy (targeted immunotherapy)

Dendritic Cell Therapy is being studied and used in specialised medical centers internationally. Pallas Clinic provides consultations and information for patients interested in such therapies and may assist in connecting patients with specialized laboratories and treatment centers. The remarkable progress in Immunotherapy, notably in Dendritic Cell Therapy, has transformed cancer treatment and garnered prestigious recognition with Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine in 2011 and 2018. This treatment represents a pivotal breakthrough in the battle against cancer, offering renewed optimism and possibilities for patients.

Dendritic Cell Therapy boosts the numbers by taking some immature Dendritic Cells from the patient’s own blood and cultivating, processing, and activating them in the laboratory. It is a complex and highly specialized process that only a few laboratories can perform. In the end, the patient receives certification on quality to get the very best quality of cells.

Dendritic Cell therapy is one of the immunotherapy treatments, which change the landscape of what we think about managing advanced disease.

How does the DCT affect cancer cells?

Dendritic cells serve as key players in the innate immune system, orchestrating specific immune responses against abnormal cells or pathogens. They accomplish this by presenting altered or foreign molecules to T cells, which are crucial components of the immune system. Without this presentation, T cells are unable to identify and eliminate cells containing these foreign or altered molecules. However, in cancer, the ability of dendritic cells to present antigens is often impaired, leading to ineffective anti-cancer immune responses. The dendritic cell vaccine utilized in our clinic operates on the principle that dendritic cells can be manipulated outside the body to enhance their antigen presentation capabilities. Immune cells are extracted from the patient's blood and cultured in the laboratory to transform into dendritic cells. These dendritic cells are then loaded with tumor-specific molecules and matured. Upon re-introduction into the patient's body, these dendritic cells effectively present the cancer-specific antigens to T cells, triggering an immune response against the cancerous cells. This advanced therapy product is administered intramuscularly according to a tailored vaccination schedule. Furthermore, this immunotherapy can be integrated into the patient's standard treatment regimen, which may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted biological therapies. Some clinical studies have reported that dendritic cell–based immunotherapies, when used alongside conventional cancer treatments, may support immune responses in certain patients with advanced-stage cancers. Individual outcomes may vary and such therapies are performed only in specialized licensed medical institutions.For these patients, immunotherapy substantially extended both the duration and quality of life.

Pallas Clinic does not manufacture or distribute advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMP). Such products are developed and supplied by licensed laboratories operating in accordance with EU regulatory requirements.