Dendritic cell therapy
Dendritic cell therapy (DCT)
Activation of the patient’s own immune system to recognize cancer cells and fight cancer on its own.
Disclaimer of liability:
The clinic in Germany that we propose to you is one of only three clinics in Europe that are licensed and accredited to carry out DCT. We can send you copies of the licenses and approvals on request.
Manufacturing authorization for somatic cell therapeutics according to §13 paragraph 1 of the German Medicines Act,
DCT is part of “Integrative Medicine – Complementary Medicine” and is not intended to replace any therapy suggested by your doctor – it should be used as an additional therapy.
Once the tumor has established itself, it develops biological camouflage mechanisms to evade the immune system. The vaccination with your laboratory-activated dendritic cells enables your immune system to detect these camouflage mechanisms, recognize tumour cells in the body as dangerous and fight them effectively. As with a conventional vaccination, the immune system can develop an immunological memory against the tumor antigens, thus ensuring a long-term effect.
Enable the patient's immune system to become active and fight the disease on its own
Immuno-oncological therapies have changed the landscape of tumor treatment and have become an important modality alongside surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
The DCT approach
The clinic develops personalized immunotherapy plans tailored to the individual needs of each patient. The doctor and biologists prepare a personalized “vaccine” that stimulates the body’s own immune system to effectively fight the tumor.
DZ’s – dendritic cells reprogram the body’s immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells without negatively affecting healthy tissue or cells. They also enable the immune system to fight cancer cells as they change. This is because destroyed cancer cells release identifying information into the bloodstream that the immune system can recognize and attack when the cancer cells reappear.
This approach is in line with the principles of personalized medicine and ensures that each patient receives the most suitable and tailored therapy.
Dendritic cells - are antigen-presenting cells
The basis of the DCT program are immune cells – so-called dendritic cells.
The immune system helps humans stay healthy by recognizing bacteria and viruses, but it needs the help of the biotech lab to recognize cancer cells and harmful cells in order to attack and kill them.
It has long been known that the body relies on antigen-presenting cells to recognize foreign substances (antigens). These cells signal the presence of an intruder to the immune system and activate other immune cells, which then act against the antigen using various mechanisms. Antigen-presenting cells are dendritic cells.
A small number of dendritic cells are also found in the bloodstream. These cells were first identified by Steinman and Cohn in 1973. R. M. Steinman was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2011 for this groundbreaking discovery.
In immunotherapy with dendritic cells, a subgroup of the patient’s white blood cells, known as monocytes, is obtained either by normal blood sampling or by leukapheresis. In the laboratory, these monocytes are converted into antigen-presenting cells, in particular monocytic dendritic cells, through the supply of cellular messengers such as cytokines and growth factors.
Immature dendritic cells can take up tumor antigens or lysed tumor cells and display key components of these antigens on their surface, a process known as priming. In addition, dendritic cells can take up tumor antigens in the patient’s body, an ability that can be enhanced by the administration of specific cellular messengers.
Learn more: Philipp Dettmer, “The Immune System – A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps Us Alive”. From Random House L, L, C New York 2021
What does the treatment at the clinic in Germany look like in detail?
There are three appointments: one for the information session with the doctor, one for the blood sample and one for the injection of the activated dendritic cells.
- First appointment: Personal information meeting
The doctor will explain dendritic cell therapy to you and also advise you on further or additional therapies. This appointment always takes place on the day before the blood sample is taken from 2.00 pm.
- Second appointment: Blood test
200 ml of blood will be taken from you. The blood is then taken directly to the doctor’s clean room laboratory. There, the biologists begin to instruct the dendritic cells to find and destroy the cancer cells and multiply the cells from a few to several million.
Duration of the examination: approx. 2 hours – After the blood sample has been taken, you will receive a high-dose vitamin C infusion and a vitamin D3 injection, which is included in the price.
The laboratory needs 7 days to produce the corresponding preparation from the patient’s cells.
- Third appointment: Subcutaneous injection of the cells
This appointment takes place exactly one week after the blood sample is taken.
Duration approx. 2 hours: Administration of the injections under the skin.
Observation of the patient and a further infusion of high-dose vitamin C and an injection of vitamin D3.
What are the expected benefits?
The “root” of a tumor consists of tumor stem cells (CSC) and, in later stages, metastatic tumor cells (MIC). They determine the growth program of the tumor cells. They divide into a tumor cell, which multiplies, and again into a stem cell, which initially does not divide but remains inactive until it becomes active. It is now known that there are many differently mutated tumor stem cells in solid tumors. As the stem cells do not divide often, they cannot be reached with conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. If these therapies are discontinued, tumor growth, e.g. in the form of metastases, can always resume.
The aim is therefore to prevent the growth of metastases. An immunological memory is also formed. This is based on T cells, which are instructed by dendritic cells. Only when the patient’s own tumor cell material is presented to the immune system as “dangerous” can it generate a specific and therefore effective immune response.
The procedure is:
- Safe and generally well tolerated:
It only attacks the cancer cells without damaging the healthy cells.
Natural in the sense that it uses the patient’s own immune cells - In contrast to CAR T-cell therapy, the immune cells are not genetically modified
- More than 20 years of clinical experience in Germany
- Easy to administer – subcutaneous injections.
This leads to:
- Reduction of the tumor burden
- Prevention of the growth of metastases
- Prevention of relapses and renewed illnesses.
Dendritic cells in cancer immunology and immunotherapy
A paradigm shift has taken place with the proposed immunological cancer therapy: The proposed immunotherapy is designed to enable the immune system to become active and fight the disease itself. This does not necessarily mean that the dead cancer cell is destroyed.
Instead, it is now assumed that a balance between the tumor and the immune system is more important, which leads to a longer overall survival time and at the same time to a higher quality of life.
Targeted against the tumor - without major side effects
Personalized DZ immunotherapy specifically targets the patient’s tumor while preserving healthy cells. As it uses the body’s natural immune response and focuses exclusively on the tumor cells, this method is free of significant side effects.
Side effects
Increasing clinical experience and the growing number of ongoing clinical studies show the following picture:
Flu-like symptoms such as fever, stiffness, tiredness, swelling and itching at the injection site are common side effects. These subside quickly on their own and rarely need to be treated or can be easily treated with antipyretic medication.
The side effects may also depend on the type and location of the tumor. In rare cases, other side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased platelet count, anemia and typical reactions associated with injections or infusions have been reported.
The list of possible side effects on this website is not exhaustive and unknown side effects may also occur.
Contraindications
There are no data on the use of dendritic cell therapy during pregnancy, making it an absolute contraindication. In addition, isolation of monocytes from the bloodstream may not be possible if the patient’s complete blood count shows low monocyte levels. Other diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, may also be a contraindication, but must be assessed and discussed individually during a personal consultation.
Adaptation of the tumor microenvironment
The tumor microenvironment is the connective tissue scaffold that surrounds the tumor and interacts with it. This interaction has a direct impact on the growth of tumor cells and the efficacy of immunotherapy. Therefore, the tumor microenvironment must be considered and actively modulated as part of the treatment strategy Increasing micronutrient and vitamin levels.
The immune system needs sufficient amounts of micronutrients and vitamins to function optimally. If necessary, we offer targeted nutritional supplements to improve and optimize the immune response.
Visit the page: Metabolic and bioregulatory medicine
An additional increase in the effectiveness of immunotherapy can be achieved by a procedure known as “metabolic and bioregulatory medicine”.
Scientific foundations
Dendritic cell therapy was first described in 1973 and received worldwide recognition (Nobel Prize for Medicine) from Ralph M. Steinman in 2011. It is based on more than 20 years of clinical experience in Germany and has established itself as an important component of integrative oncology.
Clinical trials with vaccination with dendritic cells
How the DCT works
FAQs - General questions about the DCT
We answer the most frequently asked questions.
Dendritic cell therapy is effective in all types of cancer, except blood cancer. The method has been available since 2002. Dendritic cell therapy can generally be used at any stage of the disease. The earlier it is used, the better the chances of success, especially in preventing relapses. While the exact number of scientific publications confirming the effectiveness of dendritic cell therapy is difficult to quantify, the therapy has been widely researched, with over 7,000 studies examining its potential.
Some types of leukemia—blood cancer—do not respond to DCT. Blood cancers typically have a more complex interaction with the immune system, which can compromise the success of DCT.
Although dendritic cell therapy (DCT) is known to many medical professionals, it has not yet been officially included in international guidelines for cancer treatment. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) allows individual member states to issue licenses for the use of this method, provided the treatment is performed under the supervision of appropriately qualified physicians. These physicians must also have access to a specialized clean room laboratory for the preparation of the therapy.
In Europe, Germany is one of the few countries to have implemented this legal framework, allowing licensed physicians to offer DCT as part of an integrative cancer treatment approach. However, only three physicians in Germany are authorized to produce and administer the cells to patients.
Dendritic cell therapy (DCT) may be an alternative to chemotherapy in certain cases, particularly after surgical resection of the primary tumor. However, given the long-proven efficacy of standard therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation, these treatments are recommended as primary options. It is well documented that chemotherapy and radiation can damage tumor cells, making them more vulnerable to detection and destruction by the immune system. Combining conventional cancer therapies with DCT may therefore improve therapeutic outcomes by harnessing both the direct effects of conventional therapies and the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate damaged tumor cells.
Dendritic cell therapy (DCT) can be combined with conventional chemotherapy, drug immunotherapies or radiotherapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Dendritic cell therapy (DCT) can be used at any stage of cancer, although its effectiveness is greatest when the tumor burden is small. This typically occurs when the tumor is discovered at an early stage or after surgical resection. In these cases, DCT is ideally used as an adjuvant therapy to prevent tumor recurrence and maintain the patient's overall health. The immune system generally functions more effectively when the tumor mass is smaller, increasing the likelihood of a successful response to therapy. As with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, early initiation of DCT is associated with more favorable outcomes.
In cases where the cancer is already advanced, DCT serves as a palliative care approach, focusing on relieving symptoms, prolonging life, and improving quality of life. This approach aims to control disease progression while maintaining the patient's well-being.
Dendritic cell therapy (DCT) is generally considered safe because the dendritic cells used for treatment are taken from the patient's own immune system, reducing the risk of immunological rejection. The most commonly observed side effect is a mild, temporary fever after injection, which usually subsides within a few hours. Other, less common side effects may include fatigue, local redness or swelling at the injection site, and mild flu-like symptoms. These effects are usually short-lived and represent a natural response to the activation of the immune system. Side effects may also depend on the type and location of the tumor. In rare cases, other side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased platelet count, anemia, and typical reactions associated with injections or infusions have been reported. Serious adverse events are rare and are usually closely monitored in the clinical setting.
Because dendritic cells play a crucial role in regulating immune responses and maintaining immune tolerance, their potential for treating autoimmune diseases has also been explored. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues, and DCT has been studied for its ability to modulate these immune responses. Patients suffering from an autoimmune disease should consult their physician before considering DCT.
You will attend two appointments at our private clinic in Germany:
The first appointment is the blood draw. We will take 200 ml of your blood. The blood sample will then go directly to our clean-room laboratory, where our experts will begin preparing your personalized dendritic cell vaccination.
The visit lasts approximately two hours and includes a consultation with the physician, an examination, a blood draw, and the administration of a high-dose vitamin C infusion and a vitamin D3 injection, which is included in the price.
The laboratory needs seven days to prepare the appropriate preparation from your cells.
The second appointment is the dendrite injection. This appointment takes place exactly one week after the blood draw. The appointment lasts approximately two hours and involves the administration of the injection under your skin. You will remain in the clinic for an observation period and receive another cycle of high-dose vitamin C/D.
We strongly advise you to continue to attend regular follow-up appointments with your oncologist to monitor tumor progression and overall health, including routine exams and scans. Participation in the Terrain-Ten™ program, described on the website, is very helpful.
Costs depend heavily on the type of cancer, its stage, and the personalized additional treatment programs proposed to the patient. One cycle of DCT alone costs approximately EUR 20,000.
The availability and coverage of this treatment may vary from country to country and depends on local health regulations and the specifics of your insurance plan.
The treatment is only carried out in three private clinics in Europe, all of which are located in Germany.
In most European countries, with the exception of Germany, dendritic cell therapy (DCT) has not yet been officially approved by the respective health authorities. Furthermore, the transport of dendritic cells across borders is generally prohibited because there is no guarantee of the viability or efficacy of the cells after transport, which may not meet regulatory standards for clinical use. This is in line with European Union regulations governing the transport of human cells and cell-based therapies.
Founded in 2018 by Bruno Rosset, the IASO Cancer Initiative aims to improve treatment outcomes and the quality of life of cancer patients worldwide. The initiative provides access to cutting-edge, scientifically validated cancer therapies, many of which are not yet widely accepted or are only available at select locations worldwide. To date, the network includes eight advanced clinics specializing in integrative cancer treatment. The physicians in this network are leading experts and pioneers in the field of cancer immunotherapy.
Iaso is the Greek goddess of recovery and healing, associated with the processes of recovery, healing, and the restoration of health. A figure in Greek mythology, she is worshipped as a goddess who oversees the healing process and all paths to recovery.
Iaso is the daughter of Epione, the goddess of comfort and consolation, and Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing (often referred to as Aesculapius in Roman mythology). Asclepius is widely known for his ability to heal and restore life, and as his daughter, Iaso embodies the restoration aspect of healing in ancient Greek belief.
We work exclusively with accredited clinics that meet strict standards and, among other things, have their own GMP-certified clean room laboratories. Furthermore, the specialists at these clinics have conducted and published their own scientific studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of our therapies.
Our clinics hold all the necessary licenses, certifications, and approvals from the German health authorities, ensuring compliance with national regulations. We are happy to provide copies of these documents upon request.
We strive to provide you with personalized advice and support, help you make informed decisions about choosing the appropriate treatment, and accompany you throughout the entire treatment process.
Free advice on immunotherapy
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