Dendritic cell based immunotherapy in solid tumours

In the treatment of cancer great expectations rest on novel concepts of immuno-oncology. Various concepts for harnessing the immune systems power in controlling cancer cells were developed over the last two to three decades. Three categories of therapeutic modalities may be distinguished: (i) adoptive cancer immune therapy, the latest of which are chimeric antigen-receptor T-cells; (ii) immune modulatory approaches, the most prominent being immune checkpoint inhibitors; and (iii) cancer vaccine technologies, such as the use of tumour antigen-charged dendritic cells (DC).

We focused on the latter approach. A DC-based cancer immunotherapy method was developed that aimed to stick as closely as possible to the physiologic initiation of an immune response. The concept was investigated in a phase I clinical trial for the treatment of bone and soft tissue sarcoma; and in a randomised phase II clinical trial aimed at treating glioblastoma multiforme. No conclusive evidence regarding the efficacy of our DC cancer vaccination approach was generated. However, several lessons learned during our clinical trials that might enhance the chances for developing a successful cancer vaccine in future trials. A promising approach in immuno-oncology will most likely be a combination of various approaches. Currently, first clinical trials investigate the combination of cancer vaccines with immune checkpoint inhibitors.