Engineering dendritic cell grafts for clinical trials in cellular immunotherapy of cancer: Example of chronic myelogenous leukemia

Dendritic cells are pivotal regulators of immune reactivity and immune tole rance. The observation that dendritic cells can recruit naive T-cells has i nvigorated cancer immunology and stimulated clinical trials of dendritic ce lls in immunotherapy. However, variables inherent in preparation and use of dendritic cell grafts remain to be tested. Here we discuss the role of ex vivo dendritic cell processing for in vivo antigen presentation in clinical trials. As an example of the complexity in a clinical trial of dendritic c ell vaccines, we present our ongoing trial in immunotherapy of chronic myel ogenous leukemia.