Towards the rational design of a next-generation dendritic cell vaccine for cancer immunotherapy

As professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) capable of eliciting primary immune responses among naïve T cells, dendritic (DCs) offer an attractive target for intervention. While some strategies vaccination have sought to deliver antigens direct DCs in vivo, others pulsed DCs with antigens ex vivo prior administration. Indeed, numerous clinical studies cancer immunotherapy been conducted over the past two decades based on this approach, most them benefitting from ease which may be differentiated in vitro from peripheral blood monocytes individual patients. Nevertheless, while therapies exploiting monocyte-derived (moDCs) shown safe, outcomes disappointing, efficacy having limited by factors including type used and source tumor antigens. Here we review recent developments in identifying DC subsets more favorable properties use vaccination, particular emphasis CD141+ DCs cross-presentation discuss alternative sources, such as induced pluripotent stem (iPSCs), amenable manufacture at scale. Furthermore, assess how different sources complement approach design next generation vaccines.