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Current standard treatment modalities in cancer therapy include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite signicant advances in standard cancer therapies during the last decades, one challenge of current treatment strategies is the development of daughter tumors (metastases). The spread of tumours, or metastases, is still the most common cause of death from cancer.
Growing evidence indicate that the uninhibited growth of cancer cells results from inappropriate surveillance and control of the immune response. Dendritic cell (DC) therapy based on the concept, that the bodys own defence system (immune system) can effectively recognize and destroy cancer cells. By modication and programming the bodys defence system to attack residual cancer cells expect to be the starting point of cancer metastases. In this way DC therapy is a complementary and supportative approach of current standard cancer therapy . The out-patient clinic MOZAT is a competence centre focussing on the optimisation of aftercare therapy for patients suffering from cancer. Founded by international renowned medical doctors and located in close association to the Rudolnerhaus, an international recognized private hospital located in Vienna, Austria, the out-patient clinic MOZAT have established a DC therapy program to support patients with malignant diseases.
Dendritic cells are key cells for initiation of a cellular immune response
The immune system is the bodys natural defence system against disease. White blood cells, also known as leucocytes, are the effector cells of the immune system. Dendritic cells (DC) are a highly specialized subtype of white blood cells with a unique function. DC can pick up foreign cells or cell particles including cancer cells. Within the DC the cancer cells are destroyed and several pieces of the foreign material are displayed on the cell surface of DC. The exhibition of foreign material on the DC surface is recognized by other cellular effector cells that are then travelling through the body to recognize and destroy tumor cells displaying similar material as expressed by DC. In this way, DC teach the effector cells what type of cells are harmful for the body while the search and the destruction of tumor cells are mediated by specic killer cells. DC therapy based on the nding that DC expressing tumor material of the patients own cancer will introduce a strong immune response against the cancer cells. However, the number of circulating DC in the blood is extremely low which had hindered the clinical application of a DC therapy for a long time. Within the last decade new insights in the biology of DC together with new developments in biotechnology have opened the possibility for generation of DC outside the body. Starting from circulating white blood cells and employing specic culture conditions, it is now possible to generate large quantities of DC within the lab. This opens the possibility for a clinical application of DC immunotherapy as supportative treatment in cancer.
Dr. med. P. Matthai Univ.Prof. Dr. med. Helmut Renner Univ.Prof. Dr. med. Walter Rhomberg Health and Breast Care Privatordinationen
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