As the most potent antigen-presenting cells (APCs), dendritic cells (DCs) are essential for the development and regulation of adaptive host immune responses to fight pathogens and tumors. Nowadays, immunotherapy using DC-based vaccination is an approved approach that harnesses the potential of a patient's own immune system to eliminate tumor cells in metastatic hormone-refractory cancer. Alfa Cytology has advanced vaccine development platforms and extensive experience in pancreatic cancer (PC) research. In addition to providing iPSC-based vaccine development services, we also offer DC-based vaccine development services for PC. Our services are flexible and scalable and can be tailored to the specific needs of each phase of your project.
Dendritic cell-based vaccine for PC
PC is a highly lethal tumor with the lowest 5-year survival rate, which may be associated with immune deficiency. Increasing evidence supports impaired DCs function in PC patients, as evidenced by reduced myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in the blood and impaired function. DC-based cancer vaccine is expected as a strategy to enhance antigen-specific anti-cancer immune response. In addition, direct injection of DCs without loading tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) after chemotherapy-mediated apoptosis has been reported to be more feasible.
Dendritic cell-based vaccine development
- Dendritic cell-based vaccine preparation
We can use various PC cell lines ( such as Panc-1, KP-1NL, and KP-3L) loaded with DCs to produce DC-based vaccines against PC. Combined with the complex biology of PC, our service can make DC-based PC vaccines more effective, by expanding the number of DCs, optimizing antigen loading methods, and identifying more potent antigens.
-Pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs)
Pancreatic CSCs are involved in the malignant behavior of PC such as immune escape. Therefore, a CSCs-DC-based vaccine targeting pancreatic CSCs may be a promising approach for PC treatment.
-Mesothelin (MSLN)
Promising molecular target for PC immunotherapy.
-Mucin 1
As an epithelial cell glycoprotein, mucin 1 is aberrantly overexpressed in PC and many other cancers, providing an ideal TAA target for immunotherapy.
- Dendritic cell-based vaccine optimization
DC-based cancer vaccine aims to augment the ability of the immune system to attack tumors. However, limitations such as low efficacy and low sustainability of the production process remain a challenge for this therapy. We focus on research dedicated to vaccine optimization based on the strengths and limitations of vaccination in DC and promote the development of more effective DC-based vaccines.
- Dendritic cell-based vaccine validation
We provide in vitro and in vivo PC models to assist our customers with dendritic cell-based vaccine studies. With reliable data and scientifically rigorous analysis, our services can not only help our customers assess the optimal vaccination schedule, but also provide additional information for in-depth studies of dendritic cell-based vaccines.
Workflow of our service
DCs are the most powerful antigen-presenting cells that activate naive T cells and educate them into cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), which play an important role in generating anti-pathogen and anti-tumor immune responses. DCs induce an immune response to pathogens and tumors while maintaining tolerance to themselves. Defective DC function has been reported to be associated with the progression of various human cancers, including PC. Alfa Cytology is committed to helping our customers to design and develop more effective PC vaccines. For more information on our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our clients have direct access to our staff and prompt feedback on their inquiries.
References
- Ni, Ling. "Advances in Human Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy Against Gastrointestinal Cancer." Frontiers in Immunology 13 (2022): 887189.
- Santos, Patricia M., and Lisa H. Butterfield. "Dendritic cell–based cancer vaccines." The Journal of Immunology 200.2 (2018): 443-449.