Targeted immune response against cancer - personalised
The immune system can usually recognise abnormal cell proliferation.
However, some cells are altered to such an extent that the body's defence system has difficulty recognising them as malignant.
Dendritic cell-based therapy is one of the most gentle and natural forms of cancer immunotherapy.
Below you will find all the important information about this procedure.
Dendritic cell therapy has been shown to be effective in skin cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, among others.
Favourable results were also observed in patients with colorectal cancer, stomach cancer and ovarian cancer. However, for most types of cancer, standard treatments are available that have been based on decades of research and clinical experience. We therefore recommend that conventional treatments should not be abandoned but complemented by immunotherapy. Research has shown that tumour cells damaged by chemotherapy or radiotherapy can be destroyed by immune cells much more easily than intact tumour cells.
Dendritic cell-based treatments are often used even when conventional therapies have failed. This has been seen in cases such as kidney cancer and malignant melanoma. However, the greatest promise of dendritic cell "vaccination" is when there are only small amounts of tumour cells in the body. We now know that the immune system of patients with a low tumour burden is much more effective than that of patients with more advanced disease. As with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the earlier dendritic cell therapy is started, the greater the chance of success.
How targeted immunotherapy is made from your own cells - step by step
To isolate the dendritic progenitor cells, approximately 200 ml of blood is drawn from the patient. The sample is transported under stable temperature conditions and immediately processed in a clean room certified according to EU GMP guidelines. The blood is separated into fractions by centrifugation to separate white blood cells from red blood cells and non-specific defence cells called granulocytes. The fraction containing red cells and granulocytes is removed.
The fraction containing lymphocytes harbours the cells from which dendritic cells later develop. After several purification steps, these cells are placed in a special culture medium in which the dendritic cell precursors are also detached and separated.
The optimum maturation process takes place in a cell incubator, where development is triggered by nutrient solution and targeted growth factors. Tumour cell antigens derived from the patient's own plasma are added early in the maturation process to activate the dendritic cells specifically for the patient's own tumour. Maturation takes 7 days, during which time the cells are continuously monitored under the microscope. Dendritic cells can be distinguished from other cell types by their special, fibrous, "hairy" surface. On the seventh day - before the cells are collected - flow cytometer to determine cell surface markers, number and viability. The cells are then collected, repeatedly cleaned and transferred into two small syringes.
The immunisation is carried out by the doctor: the dendritic cells are injected under the skin of the groin. After the procedure, the patient receives a high-dose vitamin infusion and is allowed to return home.
Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy compared to chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Treatment with dendritic cells activates the body's own immune system and provides it with the information it needs to recognise and target cancer cells.
Unlike chemotherapy or radiotherapy - which use foreign substances or damaging radiation to target tumours - dendritic cell-based immunotherapy is a natural and gentle approach. It fights cancer without putting unnecessary stress on healthy tissues and the rest of the body.
How well tolerated is the treatment?
Dendritic cell therapy rarely causes side effects - and when they do occur, they are usually mild, resolve quickly and do not significantly affect the patient's daily life.
Rare side effects are mostly associated with the body's natural immune response and resemble mild symptoms of infections when inflammatory messengers are released. These may include fever, temporary weakness or mild swelling of the lymph nodes. Occasionally, redness may be observed at the injection site.
How long does the treatment take and how long do I have to stay on site?
Because dendritic cell therapy has almost no side effects, there is no need for hospitalisation - the treatment is entirely outpatient.
The first appointment, during which a blood sample is taken, takes about two hours.
The second time - a week later - the cell-based vaccine is administered, which also takes about two hours.
Can dendritic cell-based immunotherapy be used in parallel with other treatments?
Dendritic cell vaccination can be used safely alongside other therapies.
However, it is important to make sure that the timing of the different treatments is well coordinated.
Is it necessary to suspend other treatments during dendritic cell therapy?
Although the number of studies investigating the anti-tumour effects of dendritic cells is increasing, it is not recommended to abandon well-established standard therapies. These therapies have already been shown to be effective in extensive clinical trials and continue to be part of the standard treatment for many tumour types.
Can this therapy be suitable for my condition?
Dendritic cell therapy can be effective for most types of cancer, except leukaemia.
This method has been used in our clinic since 2002. Dendritic cell therapy can be used at almost any stage of the disease, but the earlier it is started, the better the chances - especially in terms of preventing recurrence and metastases.
The potential and effectiveness of dendritic cell therapy has been investigated in more than 7000 studies, making it a widely researched and established therapeutic option.
Are there types of tumours for which dendritic cell therapy is not recommended?
Certain types of leukaemia - that is, certain types of blood cancer - do not respond well to dendritic cell therapy.
Leukaemia usually has a more complex interaction with the immune system, which may reduce the effectiveness of dendritic cell therapy.
How the process?
Request a free consultation
Any interested patient or relative can simply start the process by clicking on the "Request a free consultation" button.
Fill in the data sheet
Please provide basic information in the form that opens. There are mandatory and optional fields - the more accurately you fill them in, the more efficiently we can help you.
First information letter
Once the data has been received, we will send you detailed information by e-mail, including our contact details and the medical documents you will need for the preliminary assessment.
Personal contact
If you include a telephone number, our staff will be happy to call you to discuss any questions you may have. Scientific studies and publications are also available on request.
Assessment of medical documentation
Once we have received the necessary documents (preferably in German or English), we will forward them to the clinic's medical experts. They will then decide whether dendritic cell-based immunotherapy is an option in your case.
Consultation with your doctor
In case of a positive medical opinion, a video interview with the doctor will be possible. All important issues can be discussed in a personalised way.
Making an appointment for therapy
If the patient decides to undergo treatment, the next step is to make an appointment and coordinate the organisational details of the treatment.
Personal consultation at the clinic
Upon arrival at the clinic, you will also have a personal medical consultation. If interpretation is required, our staff will be happy to help you by telephone.
Contact us with confidence - we are happy to answer all your questions.
Do you have a question or need more information? We're happy to help - we'll arrange a free consultation with you. Please let us know briefly how we can help you.
Dendritic cell-based therapy is one of the most gentle and natural forms of cancer immunotherapy.
Below you will find all the important information about this procedure.
Legal and medical declaration
This website is not a healthcare provider and does not provide medical diagnosis, treatment or cure. The information contained on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by a qualified medical practitioner.
The website aims to provide information on the latest immunotherapy options (such as dendritic cell-based therapies) licensed in Germany,
connect patients with EU-authorised, certified clinics where further medical consultation and assessment can take place.
All medical decisions, including the choice of possible treatments, are made exclusively by the competent medical specialists, based on a full examination of the patient and an assessment of his/her individual medical condition.
The information on this website should not be considered medical advice and does not promise any specific results or cure.
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