Fusions between dendritic cells and whole tumor cells as anticancer vaccines

• Published in: Oncoimmunology Vol. 2; no. 5; p. e24437
• Main Authors: Koido, Shigeo, Homma, Sadamu, Okamoto, Masato, Namiki, Yoshihisa, Takakura, Kazuki, Uchiyama, Kan, Kajihara, Mikio, Arihiro, Seiji, Imazu, Hiroo, Arakawa, Hiroshi, Kan, Shin, Komita, Hideo, Ito, Masaki, Ohkusa, Toshifumi, Gong, Jianlin, Tajiri, Hisao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.05.2013; Landes Bioscience
• Subjects: anticancer vaccines; cell fusions; dendritic cells; Point of View; anticancer vaccines; dendritic cells; cell fusions
• ISSN: 2162-402X; 2162-4011; 2162-402X
• DOI: 10.4161/onci.24437

Various strategies have been developed to deliver tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) to dendritic cells (DCs). Among these, the fusion of DCs and whole cancer cells can process a broad array of TAAs, including hitherto unidentified molecules, and present them in complex with MHC Class I and II molecules and in the context of co-stimulatory signals. DC-cancer cell fusions have been shown to stimulate potent antitumor immune responses in animal models. In early clinical trials, however, the antitumor effects of DC-cancer cell fusions are not as vigorous as in preclinical settings. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in anticancer vaccines based on DC-cancer cell fusions.