Dendritic cell treatment is considered one of the most promising areas of immunotherapy for cancer. The use of these cells allows for enhanced activity of T cells against a malignant tumor. Some dendritic cell-based drugs have already been approved in developed countries, while others are still under clinical trials. Dendritic cells work both as monotherapy and in combination with other immunotherapeutic methods, most often immune checkpoint inhibitors. You are welcome to visit the Booking Health website if you are interested in cancer treatment with dendritic cells abroad. On our website, you can find how much dendritic cell therapy costs and choose a medical care program.
The essence of dendritic cell treatment
The essence of dendritic cell therapy is to train the patient’s immune system to resist the uncontrolled growth of a malignant tumor.
Dendritic cells are found in the human body. This is a type of immune cell whose main function is to present antigens to T cells. After learning about the antigen, T cells attack it. Thus, dendritic cells themselves do not have cytotoxic properties, and they only set the direction for an immune attack.
The impact on dendritic cells is one of the mechanisms of tumor evasion from the immune response. It has been established that the functional activity of dendritic cells in cancer patients is reduced, and their number also decreases. The situation can, however, be corrected with the help of an individual dendritic cell-based vaccine.
The drug for cancer immunotherapy is made for each patient individually. Dendritic cells are taken from the patient’s blood, after which they are activated by tumor antigens. The trained dendritic cells, which carry information about the target for an immune attack, are injected back into the patient’s body. They present antigen to T cells, which become more aggressive against the tumor.
In what areas of oncology are dendritic cells used?
The first, and so far the only, dendritic cell-based vaccine is Sipuleucel-T. It is designed to treat advanced stages of prostate cancer. The patient’s own dendritic cells are activated by prostatic acid phosphatase.
The method of immunotherapy does not affect the size of tumors but significantly increases the life expectancy of patients. The drug thus stops tumor growth.
The vaccine has been used in medicine for more than 10 years. It is well tolerated, does not cause any severe side effects, and combines well with other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy.
In other areas of oncology, dendritic cell treatment is carried out as part of clinical trials. Good results have already been obtained in phase III trials for the treatment of melanoma, lymphoma, glioblastoma, breast cancer, and stomach cancer. There are also earlier phases of clinical trials being done for many types of cancer.
Where to undergo your dendritic cell treatment?
You can undergo your cancer diagnostics and therapy using a dendritic cell-based vaccine at clinics in Germany. You are welcome to visit the Booking Health website to find the most suitable medical center for you. The website also offers the current prices of medical services abroad.
You can make your treatment appointment through the Booking Health service for your preferred dates. The company’s specialists will help you select a hospital in Germany and organize your trip. When you make your appointment through Booking Health, the cost of treatment will be lower for you than when you contact a medical center directly. This is due to the absence of additional taxes for foreign patients.
