Due to some misinformation circulating in the field of Cell Immunotherapy, we would like to clarify a few important points.
In the European Union (EU), the "hospital exemption" rule under the Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) regulation allows certain therapies to be used without full marketing authorization.
Under this provision, ATMPs can be manufactured and administered within a hospital setting for individual patients based on a physician’s prescription. These therapies are subject to stringent regulatory standards to ensure safety, quality, and efficacy, and they are monitored under the supervision of health authorities.
Dendritic Cell (DC) Vaccines have emerged as a promising cancer Immunotherapy. Dendritic cells (DC’s), which are key antigen-presenting cells, are extracted from the patient, loaded with cancer-specific antigens, and then reintroduced subcutaneously to stimulate a targeted Immune Response. This process activates T-cells and Natural Killer (NK) Cells to target and destroy cancer cells. DC vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in treating cancers such as Melanoma, Prostate cancer, and Glioblastoma. The most well-known DC vaccine, Sipuleucel-T (Provenge), has been approved for prostate cancer treatment. Research is ongoing to enhance the effectiveness of these vaccines and extend their application to other cancer types.
Personalized Immunotherapy for Advanced Cancers tailors treatment to the specific characteristics of the patient’s tumour and Immune profile. Key approaches include:
- Neoantigen Vaccines: Targeting tumor-specific mutations to provoke a precise immune response.
- CAR-T Cell Therapy: Genetically modifying T-cells to enhance their ability to attack cancer cells.
- Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs): Expanding immune cells from the patient’s tumor to increase their cancer-fighting potential.
- Dendritic Cell Vaccines (DCV): Priming the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells more effectively.
These therapies aim to bolster the body’s Immune Response against cancer and have shown promise in extending patient survival without compromising overall health. However, they are not curative and primarily aim to manage the disease.
Success of Personalized Cell-Based Immunotherapies
Personalized Cell-based Immunotherapies such as CAR-T therapy, Dendritic Cell Vaccines, and Adoptive T-cell Transfer have shown significant success in treating advanced blood cancers like Leukemia and Lymphoma, often resulting in long-term remission.
However, their success in treating Solid Tumors (e.g., pancreatic, lung, and breast cancers) has been more limited due to challenges such as the Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Evasion mechanisms.
Ongoing research is focused on overcoming these obstacles to improve outcomes for patients with advanced solid tumors.
Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) Therapy vs. Dendritic Cell Vaccines (DCV)
Cytokine-Induced Killer (CIK) Therapy and Dendritic Cell Vaccines (DCV) are both promising forms of immunotherapy for advanced cancers, but they operate in different ways:
- CIK Therapy: Utilizes T-cells and NK-cells stimulated with Cytokines to directly target and kill cancer cells. This therapy is known for its broad cytotoxic activity and ability to attack various cancer cells without the need for specific antigen presentation.
- DCV: Primarily focuses on activating the immune system by presenting tumor-specific antigens, helping to stimulate a T-cell and NK-cell response against cancer.
While CIK therapy offers Immediate Cytotoxic Action, DCV provides Long-Term Immune Memory but may take longer to elicit a full response. Therefore, DCV may not always be the most suitable therapy for advanced-stage cancer treatment.
