BACKGROUND: Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination has been investigated as immunotherapy for several types of cancer. A potential drawback to vaccination with autologous monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) could be that MoDCs from patients are functionally impaired. In case of androgen-independent prostate cancer (CaP), the cancer itself, diverse prior therapies, and the hormone manipulation may affect the immune system. METHODS: MoDCs from patients suffering from androgen-independent CaP were generated according to a clinically applicable protocol to evaluate the phenotype, maturation capacity, migration, and T-cell stimulation of these cells compared with those generated from tumor-free donors. RESULTS: MoDCs generated from CaP patients could be fully matured and efficiently migrated towards the chemokine CCL21. They had a strong potency to activate allogeneic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and to present antigens to specific CTL. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that MoDCs from patients with androgen-independent CaP are functionally intact and hence qualify as cellular vaccines for immunotherapy of advanced stage CaP. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
BACKGROUND: Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination has been investigated as immunotherapy for several types of cancer. A potential drawback to vaccination with autologous monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) could be that MoDCs from patients are functionally impaired. In case of androgen-independent prostate cancer (CaP), the cancer itself, diverse prior therapies, and the hormone manipulation may affect the immune system. METHODS: MoDCs from patients suffering from androgen-independent CaP were generated according to a clinically applicable protocol to evaluate the phenotype, maturation capacity, migration, and T-cell stimulation of these cells compared with those generated from tumor-free donors. RESULTS: MoDCs generated from CaP patients could be fully matured and efficiently migrated towards the chemokine CCL21. They had a strong potency to activate allogeneic CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and to present antigens to specific CTL. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that MoDCs from patients with androgen-independent CaP are functionally intact and hence qualify as cellular vaccines for immunotherapy of advanced stage CaP. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.