Advanced Cancer Treatment with Dendritic Cell Therapy

Dendritic cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy widely used for decades and seems to be useful in treating advanced cancers. Due to its non-invasive and patient-tailored method, it has attracted international attention among patients who are interested in modern treatments for cancer. 

What are Dendritic Cells?

Dendritic cells are the immune cells that have function as immune sentinels targeting infections, tumors and other antigens. They are of the natural body defenses and are most proficient in the display of the antigens on the body’s surface to elicit an immune response.

Key Characteristics of Dendritic Cells

• Antigen-Presenting Cells
• Bridge between Innate and Adaptive Immunity
• Location in the body
• Maturation and Activation

Functions of Dendritic Cells

• Antigen Capture
• Immune Activation
• Immune Regulation
• Tumor Recognition

What is Dendritic Cell Therapy?

Dendritic cell therapy relies on the patients’ immune system to identify and wipe out cancer cells. Dendritic cells are immune cells that are responsible for recognising antigens and presenting them to T-cells to mount an immune response.

In the cure for cancer, isolated dendritic cells are activated to take up tumor antigen and are then reinfused into blood circulation to mobilize an attack on cancerous cells. This approach proves to be efficient mostly in cases where patients have peculiar biomarkers on their tumours or antigens.

They can teach T—cells which play a significant role in combating infections and cancer prevention.

Found in tissues that come into contact with the external environment and include skin and epithelial layer of the nose, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Present in other tissues as well blood and Lymphatic systems.

Dendritic cells have been called ‘the guardians’ of the immune system given their duty to provide constant alertness, and to coordinate immune responses.

Why Choose Dendritic Cell Therapy?

Dendritic Cell Therapy (DCT) is a unique and individualized approach to manage cancer that incorporates the body’s immune system as a tool to attack cancer cells. In the treatment, dendritic cells are first harvested from the patient and then trained to recognize specific tumor markers, a process that embarks the adaptive immune system against the malignancy without affecting the healthy cells hence there are no side effects such as those seen with chemotherapy and radiation. DCT has been evaluated favorably in metastatic and effective for advanced cancers like melanoma, prostate and breast cancers and DCT can obviously be produced combined with other treatments. In addition to cancer treatment, this non-toxic approach generates long acting immune memory that reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and also enhances quality of life through low side effects. Due to its possibility to extend survival and induce remission according to the scientific evidence, dendritic cell therapy is diverse, patient-oriented methodology that can be considered as an integrative approach to cancer treatment.

Role of Dendritic Cells in Advanced Cancer Treatment

Dendritic Cells are the most effective Antigen Presenting Cells in the body that help in modulating immune response against cancer for treatment. They capture tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) from malignant cells, process and display it to T-cells, which in turn stimulate cytotoxic T-cells to directly kill tumors and helper T-cells engage in immune response escalation. Dendritic cells also produce cytokines to attract other Natural Killer cells and macrophages to improve the general anti- cancer activity. When educating the immune system, DCs make immune memory, which minimizes the chances of relapse of cancer. This position is the basis of dendritic cell based immunotherapy where DCs are isolated from the patient, cultured and then loaded with tumor antigens before being reintroduced into the same patient to enhance immune response against cancer cells. Also, it enhances treatments such as chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors by overcoming cancer immune-checkpoint mechanisms.

Types of Cancer treated by Dendritic Cell Therapy

DCT has demonstrated potential in the cure for numerous types of cancer, especially various types for which conventional treatment is not very effective. Here are the main types of cancer commonly treated with DCT:

• Melanoma
• Prostate Cancer
• Breast Cancer
• Lung Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Glioblastoma
• Leukemia and Lymphoma
• Kidney Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Salivary Gland Cancer
• Gastric Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Cervical Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Thyroid Cancer
• Uterine Cancer
• Bile Duct Cancer
• Sarcoma
• Intestinal Cancer
• Skin Cancer

Procedure for Dendritic Cell Therapy

Blood Collection (Apheresis)

• Collection of White Blood Cells: The initial method of sample preparation for the procedure involves drawing blood from the patient, usually, 200-300 mL. In performing this some form of apheresis is done where white blood cells are separated and include dendritic cells.

Isolation and Culturing of dendritic cells

• Isolation: The collected blood is taken through a processing technique to harvest dendritic cells together with other white blood cells such as monocytes in a laboratory.
• Culturing: The dendritic cells collected are cultured into specialized medium and placed in a positive incubator environment for at least 6 days to let it replicate and to develop into mature dendritic cells. At this time, tumour antigens are given to them (These could be obtained from the patient’s own tumour or from a line of tumour cells) to ‘instruct’ the Dendritic cells on how to ‘target’ cancer cells.

Activation of Dendritic Cells

• Priming with Tumor Antigens: The dendritic cells are first sensitized to tumor antigens, either from the established tumor or the modified/ synthetic tumor antigens. This process conditions the dendritic cells towards detecting Cancer cells.
• Cytokine Stimulation: Other substances like cytokines can also be incorporated into culture to increase the capacity of dendritic cells on the immune response.

Reinjection of Activated Dendritic Cells

• Reinjection: After maturation and activation of the dendritic, they are administered back into the patient through IV or direct injection to the tumor site.
• Targeting Cancer Cells: These activated dendritic cells will also move in the body with a memory of the tumor antigens, the DC will go ahead and activate the T-cells for cancer destruction.

Immune Response Activation

• T-Cell Activation: On the interior of the body, the stimulated dendritic cells then display the tumor antigens to T-cells ready and willing to take on the cancer cells. It is now easier for the immune system to attack the tumor.

What are the risks or complications after the treatment?

Although the body’s own dendritic cells (DCT) are relatively non-toxic, there are still various side effects and contraindications to the therapy. Side effects are those which appear after the treatment is over, after the immune system has been activated, or in response to various factors relative to the patient’s condition. These risks are normally looked out and controlled by the healthcare givers. Here are some of the most common post-treatment risks:

• Fever
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Muscle Aches
• Rashes
• Joint Pain
• Swelling
• Low or High Blood Pressure
• Headache
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Allergic Reaction

What is the Success Rate of Dendritic Cell Therapy?

• Success rate of dendritic cell therapy strongly depends on the type and stage of cancer, patient’s immune response to the therapy, and used protocol. For instance, success rate for some cancers including melanoma and prostate cancer may be within 30- 50 % while success rate for other cancers may be lower.

Dendritic Cell Therapy Cost in India

• The cost of a single dendritic cell therapy session typically ranges from $18,000 to $22,000. The cost of dendritic cell therapy in India may vary depending on factors such as the medical facility, the type of tumour, the general health state of the patient, the kind of programme, the session frequency and the number of sessions needed. But India enjoys a global reputation for giving top notch medical facilities at considerably lesser prices than the developed western countries.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Dendritic Cell Therapy

The cost of dendritic cell therapy depend on several parameters such as the healthcare facility, the nature and type of disease the patient has, processes that follow the diagnosis of the disease and the treatment process. Here’s an overview of the key elements that can influence the cost:

• Type and Stage of Cancer
• Number of Treatment Sessions
• Medical Centre or Hospital
• Skills and Experience of Surgeon
• Location of the Facility
• Facilities and Infrastructure
• Hospital Stay

Why Choose Dendritic Cell Therapy in India?

India is well-known for providing quality and inexpensive treatment for many complex diseases and disorders like dendritic cell therapy (DCT). Here’s why international patients often choose India for this innovative cancer treatment:

• Highly Trained Specialists: Immunologist and Oncologist are quite famous across the world due to their skill in the latest forms of cancer treatments.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Standard dendritic cell therapy has already been available in many hospitals and research centers around the world, which means that the services provided meet all the requirements necessary for the application of modern high-tech solutions in related fields of medicine.
• Affordable Treatment: Unlike in the Western countries, relatively low cost of dendritic cell therapy does not reduce the quality of services offered in India.
• Customized Treatment Plans: Indian centers offering dendritic cell therapy consider the type of cancer the person has and the state of their health.
• Integration with Other Therapies: DCT is generally used together with chemotherapy, radiation or targeted therapy to improve the quality of treatment.
• Global Recognition: Many reputed hospitals in India are approved by international recognized organizations like Joint Commission International (JCI) and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH).
• High Success Rates: Different Indian centers notice favorable results in the treatment of various diseases by dendritic cell therapy.

Dedicated International Patient Services:

• Help with medical visas, transportation and travel health insurance.
• Having a backup of transportation especially at the airport and accommodation assistance.
• Translation services for specially dealing with different language communication.
• Follow-Up Care: Indian hospitals explain the plan for after treatment and the consultation via call service.

Choosing Dendritic Cell Therapy Hospital in India

It is important to choose the proper hospital or medical center where dendritic cell therapy (DCT) will be conducted in order to have the best result. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing a hospital in India for this advanced treatment:

• Reputation and Expertise of the Hospital
• Qualified Medical Team
• State-of-the-Art Technology
• Cost Transparency
• Location and Accessibility
• Support for International Patients

Best Cancer Treatment Hospitals

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket
• BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

Best Cancer Treatment Doctors

• Dr. Parveen Yadav
• Dr. Ashok Kumar Vaid
• Dr. Ankur Bahl
• Dr. Harit Chaturvedi
• Dr. Surender Kumar Dabas

Why Choose GetWellGo for Dendritic Cell Therapy for Cancer Cure in India?

GetWellGo is a prominent Medical Tourism Company in India which offers services to international patients for the right legal and well-qualified Cancer treatment, including Dendritic Cell Therapy. Here are some key reasons why GetWellGo is an excellent choice for cancer treatment with dendritic cell therapy:

• Specialized Medical Partners
• Cutting-Edge Technology
• Language Support
• Travel Assistance
• Transparent Pricing
• Accredited Hospitals
• Visa Assistance
• Accommodation Services

FAQ

1. What cancers are dendritic cell therapy effective against?

Dendritic cell therapy has been used to treat various types of cancers, including:

• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Lung cancer
• Melanoma
• Ovarian cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Glioblastoma
• Renal cell carcinoma

2. Who is a suitable candidate for dendritic cell therapy?

Patients with the following conditions are typically suitable candidates:

• Patients with certain types of cancer especially advanced or recurrent cancers with diagnosis.
• The target is patients with tumors that over-express clear tumor-specific antigens.
• Those who have general health for the procedure since it involves some operations.

3. How many sessions of dendritic cell therapy should be done?

• Normally, dendritic cell therapy is 5 – 10 sessions depending on patient’s condition, type of cancer, and its response to the therapy. Booster doses which may also be advised intermittently as well.

4. What are the advantages inherent to dendritic cell therapy?

• Personalized Treatment: That is dependent on the type of cancer the patient has been diagnosed with.
• Minimized Side Effects: Compared to other conventional treatments such as chemotherapy.
• Boosts Immunity: Supports the body’s capacity to defend itself against cancer cells.
• Compatibility with Other Treatments: May be administered in conjunction with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy for enhanced results.

5. What is the efficacy of dendritic cell therapy?

The success of dendritic cell therapy varies based on:

• Type and stage of cancer.
• The patient’s general condition and the state of his/her natural defense mechanisms.
• If this form of therapy is used together with other therapies.
• Analysis of the data available has proved that life and quality of life for some cancer patients has significantly increased through research and clinical trials.