Dendritic Cell Vaccines for Cancer Immunotherapy: The Role of Human Conventional Type 1 Dendritic Cells

Abstract

Throughout the last decades, dendritic cell (DC)-based anti-tumor vaccines have proven to be a safe therapeutic approach, although with inconsistent clinical results. The functional limitations of ex vivo monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) commonly used in these therapies are one of the pointed explanations for their lack of robustness. Therefore, a great effort has been made to identify DC subsets with superior features for the establishment of effective anti-tumor responses and to apply them in therapeutic approaches. Among characterized human DC subpopulations, conventional type 1 DCs (cDC1) have emerged as a highly desirable tool for empowering anti-tumor immunity. This DC subset excels in its capacity to prime antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells and to activate natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells, which are critical factors for an effective anti-tumor immune response. Here, we sought to revise the immunobiology of cDC1 from their ontogeny to their development, regulation and heterogeneity. We also address the role of this functionally thrilling DC subset in anti-tumor immune responses and the most recent efforts to apply it in cancer immunotherapy.

Intranasal vaccine from whole Leishmania donovani antigens provides protection and induces specific immune response against visceral leishmaniasis

“…Strong evidence supports the importance of DCs in generating a long-lasting immunity through the orchestration of the adaptive immune response [ 37 , 38 ]. Nowadays, IN vaccination is considered as a less invasive delivery route that is associated with more widespread immunity as compared to existing alternatives.…”

Comprehensive Analysis of Autophagy-related Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

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“…This may, in part, be due to the use of monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs), which have been reported to have decreased migratory capacity towards the site of T cell interactions, probably caused by their extensive ex vivo manipulation [ 216 , 217 ]. Naturally circulating DCs (nDCs) may be a much more effective alternative to MoDCs, however they only constitute about 1% of blood mononuclear cells making their use extremely challenging [ 216 , 218 ]. The use of ex vivo-pulsed DC vaccines is costly, labor intensive and requires specialized manufacturing, thus limiting their broad clinical applicability [ 219 ] and more extensive studies are warranted on this therapeutic approach.…”