Dendritic cell therapy for cancer (immunotherapy):
Dendritic cell therapys for the treatment of cancer deseases have been introduced in the beginning of the `80th first for the treatment for the renal cancer . Now we have an overview over almost thirty years and experience with the mode of action of dendritic cells. Many of scientifics articles have been published and in May 2010 the FDA in the USA released Provenge for the treatment of prostate cancer, because of its good therapeutical effect demonstrated in large clinicle trials.
The dendritic cell vaccines are produced from the patients own blood in special laboratories .
After the production is finished, which takes about ten days, the dendritic cell vaccine loaded up with certain antigens is applicated back to the patient as an intradermal, intranodal, intravenous or intratumoral injection. The dendritic cell therapy should be administerd under hyperthermia conditions with simultaneous low dose oral chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamid 50mg/ per day/ p.o about one week before the injection.)
The procedure should be repeated 6 times every 2 to 4 weeks to achieve a high level of immun reaction. This therapy can be used for various cancer deseases like prostate-, breast-, colonic-, kidney-, pankreas- and skin cancer. |