Dendritic cell vaccination as a treatment modality for melanoma

Abstract

As melanoma is an immunogenic tumor, immunotherapy has been investigated as a possible treatment modality for melanoma patients at high risk of relapse and those with metastatic disease. In the past decade progress has been made, ranging from rather nonspecific stimulations of the immune system with IL-2 and IFN-α to more specific approaches based on vaccination with tumor antigens. Owing to their unique features, dendritic cells (DCs) represent an important tool for tumor antigen-specific immunotherapy. However, clinical vaccination trials with DCs showed sobering results with respect to objective responses and improvement of overall survival. In this review, principles and methods of DC-based vaccination are presented. Mechanisms impairing clinically successful vaccination strategies are described. Finally, we will discuss perspectives for future developments of DC-based vaccines that might lead melanoma treatment to a new era.

Keywords::

• cancer immunotherapy
• cancer vaccination
• dendritic cell
• melanoma

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

DC: Dendritic cell; Flu-MP: Influenza matrix peptide; id.: Intradermal; il.: Intralymphatic; in.: Intranodal; iv.: Intravenous; KLH: Keyhole limpet hemocyanin; MC: Maturation cocktail; MCM: Monocyte-derived conditioned medium; PBMC: Peripheral blood mononuclear cell; PGE₂: Prostaglandin E₂; PolyI:C: Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid; PPD: Tuberculin purified protein derivative; sc.: Subcutaneous; TT: Tetanus toxoid.