Gene and Cell Technologies Lab seeks ways to inhibit melanoma cells
Source: Sciencex, November 2023
A paper saw light in Current Issues in Molecular Biology.
“Immunotherapy is an innovative approach to cancer treatment based on the activation of the human immune system to fight tumor cells. Among the various immunotherapy strategies, a special place is occupied by vaccines based on dendritic cells, which are white blood cells specialized in antigen presentation and have a characteristic spurred morphology. Dendritic cells are able to migrate to lymph nodes and activate T-killers (T-lymphocytes)—the main cells of antitumor immune response. This fact makes dendritic cells an important link between innate and adaptive immunity," explains Junior Research Associate Ivan Filin.
Personalized vaccines based on dendritic cells are researched as means for antitumor therapy, the young scientist says, “These vaccines are safe and have a prolonged anti-tumor effect, keeping the disease in check. To obtain such a vaccine, blood is taken from the patient, monocytes (a type of leukocyte, a cell of the immune system) are isolated, and dendritic cells are selected from them using protein factors. The resulting dendritic cells are loaded with tumor antigen and injected into the patient."