Treatment of colon cancer with dendritic cells (DC) is one of the modern immunotherapy types. This is an opportunity to completely get rid of cancer or control the disease for a long time at an advanced stage. The monumental importance of this approach was recognized by the Nobel Committee when they awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize in Medicine to American immunologist Ralph Steinman for his groundbreaking discovery of dendritic cells and their role in adaptive immunity. In Germany, doctors manufacture individual dendritic cell cancer vaccines, taking into account the genetic peculiarities of the tumor in each patient, and carry out complex treatments. In German clinics, vaccination is combined with surgical tumor removal, minimally invasive destruction of metastases, and sparing methods of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Due to these, German oncologists achieve remission in more than 90% of patients with stage 1-3 cancer and 80% of patients with stage 4.
Is dendritic cell vaccination indicated to you?
In colorectal cancer, advances in treatment options have led to improved survival rates, extending the life expectancy of many cancer patients. If you are diagnosed not in Germany, your oncologist may not offer you dendritic cell colon cancer treatment. Unfortunately, not all hospitals have certified laboratories and the technical ability to produce vaccines, and not all doctors have the relevant experience. In developed countries, dendritic cell immunotherapy is performed in virtually all people with bowel cancer.
- The best time for a vaccination with DC would be after the surgical removal of the primary intestinal tumor and if they were detected by MRI, large metastases in the abdominal cavity. Such an operation is called cytoreductive; its task is to remove the maximum quantity of malignant cells surgically. German surgeons strive to achieve complete cytoreduction without leaving any malignant foci in the body. Vaccination with dendritic cells in the postoperative period destroys micrometastases that are invisible to the eye and provides a complete cure for cancer.
- More than 20% of patients undergo colon cancer therapy without surgery because they already have multiple liver metastases at the time of diagnosis. In such a situation, the success of DC therapy for colon cancer is ensured by the high immunogenicity of an unremoved tumor. On the surface of colorectal tumors, there are many unique molecules (tumor-associated antigens) that are absent in healthy tissues. This is a carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1), mucin 1 (MUC1), and p53 protein. Due to the recognition of tumor-associated antigens, the vaccine inhibits primary tumor progression, prevents the development of new metastases, and slows down the growth of existing ones.
- You can also get a colon cancer vaccine if you have been diagnosed with a recurrence of the disease after successful completion of the initial treatment: radiation therapy, surgery, and postoperative chemotherapy. The purpose of vaccination, in this case, is to control cancer better, prolong life, and alleviate the symptoms of oncology. It is effective even after the failure of the standard relapse treatment protocol.
How dendritic cell vaccines work
Dendritic cells do not destroy malignant neoplasms directly; their anticancer effect is realized through several mechanisms:
- The main mechanism is the activation and "training" of anti-cancer immunity, from which the intestinal tumor has learned to hide successfully. After vaccination, the level of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (immune cells that directly destroy malignant cells) in the blood increases. At the same time, new T-lymphocytes are trained to recognize the specific tumor since doctors use fragments of a patient's tumor to manufacture a vaccine.
- In recent clinical trials, scientists have identified another mechanism of the colon cancer vaccine action: it destroys tumor blood vessels, depriving them of nutrients and oxygen.
German oncologists often combine the administration of colon cancer vaccine with the course of chemotherapy. Under the influence of chemotherapy drugs, tumor cells stop multiplying, but at the same time, they more actively synthesize unique molecules that allow the immune system to detect them.
«In developed countries, the combination of a standard therapeutic protocol with dendritic cell vaccination is the basis for successful treatment of metastatic colon cancer.»
Also, the combination of vaccination, other types of immunotherapy (e.g., treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors), and chemotherapy disrupt the tumor microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment includes changes in healthy tissues that facilitate the growth of malignant cells and metastasizing. In particular, this is connected with the dysfunction of dendritic cells. Due to the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment, the tumor successfully hides from immune attacks. The introduction of young dendritic cells disrupts the microenvironment and masking of the tumor.
How the vaccination is carried out
To manufacture a vaccine for colon cancer, oncologists need two individual components. These are fragments of the patient's tumor or tumor cells in the blood (liquid biopsy) and a special type of leukocytes (monocytes). The other substances that are required for the technological process can be synthesized in the laboratory: a nutrient medium for monocytes to multiply, interleukins that enhance the immunogenic properties of young dendritic cells, etc.
The treatment program is divided into two main steps. During Step 1, which typically takes one day:
- Patients undergo initial examinations including clinical history taking, general examination, and essential laboratory tests.
- The removed during the operation tumor undergoes fragmentation and lysis. If there was no surgery, or if the person is undergoing treatment for sigmoid colon cancer recurrence, then a liquid biopsy is performed to receive the tumor genetic material. The tumor-specific peptides or specific RNA / DNA can also serve as the tumor material. They are synthesized in the laboratory, taking into account information about the most common mutations and antigens of colorectal tumors.
- While the specialists process the components of the tumor, the patient undergoes leukapheresis. This is a procedure during which doctors extract young monocytes from the blood. The blood plasma and other elements are returned to the patient, making the procedure easily tolerated and side-effect-free. Within 3-5 days, monocytes mature into dendritic cells, multiply on a nutrient medium, and "get acquainted" with tumor fragments. The prepared vaccine contains several million specialized dendritic cells, ready to start fighting cancer immediately.
Step 2 of the program involves the actual vaccination procedure, which is performed on an outpatient basis and takes one day. The treatment includes the vaccination itself, symptomatic treatment if needed, and necessary nursing services. The colon cancer vaccine is administered subcutaneously, initially – in the inguinal region and after the healing of the postoperative suture, if any, – in the navel.
It is unnecessary to undergo leukapheresis again before repeated injections: doctors cryopreserve dendritic cells obtained during the first procedure. Thanks to special storage conditions, they fully retain their medicinal potential.
The cost of dendritic cell therapy ranges from 20,000 to 38,000 euros, with the final price depending on the combination with other services and individual treatment needs.
To provide more detailed insights about this innovative treatment, we interviewed Professor Frank Gansauge, a renowned expert in dendritic cell therapy with over 22 years of experience in this field. Professor Gansauge shares his extensive knowledge about the treatment process, and its effectiveness, and answers the most common questions patients have about this therapy.
Prof. Frank Gansauge's Revolutionary Approach: Combining Classical Treatments and Dendritic Cell Therapy
How to make an appointment for vaccination in a German clinic
Dendritic cell therapy for colon cancer in Germany offers an alternative treatment approach that may help manage symptoms and target tumor cells, potentially reducing pain and improving outcomes. Research into this innovative therapy continues to explore its effectiveness in producing antibodies against cancer cells, while also investigating its potential as an early intervention strategy. While costs may vary, increasing awareness about this treatment option, along with understanding the causes and risk factors of colon cancer, emphasizes the importance of regular screening for early detection and improved prognosis.
You can come to Germany only for vaccination or plan a whole treatment here: preoperative radiation therapy, surgical removal of the tumor, postoperative vaccination, and chemotherapy. In the second case, doctors will give you a more personalized vaccine because it will be created using the tumor removed during surgery.
Booking Health provides professional assistance in selecting the most suitable German oncology center for your specific case. Our medical experts analyze your diagnosis and treatment history to recommend clinics with the highest success rates in the administration of dendritic cell cancer vaccines. With Booking Health's support, you will:
- Receive expert guidance in choosing the optimal clinic based on your individual medical case
- Get priority appointment scheduling with leading specialists in colon cancer vaccines
- Access treatment at preferred partner rates (up to 50% lower than standard international patient fees)
- Have a comprehensive consultation with a physician before arrival
- Receive a detailed treatment plan customized to your needs
- Benefit from complete travel and accommodation arrangements
- Have personal interpreter services throughout your medical stay
- Get assistance with medication procurement and shipping to your home country
- Maintain follow-up communication with your German medical team
- Have dedicated support from a personal medical coordinator available 24/7
Booking Health doctors will additionally control all stages of the medical program; financial specialists will check the invoices from the clinic and ensure the return of unspent deposits, and your personal medical coordinator will be in constant contact with you via messengers.
Dendritic Cell Therapy: Patient Stories with Booking Health
Frequently asked Questions of Our Patients About Stomach Cancer Answered
Send request for treatmentGermany pioneers dendritic cell therapy with certified laboratories and advanced medical standards, achieving 90% remission rates for early-stage colon cancer through personalized treatment approaches combining immunotherapy with traditional methods.
The treatment creates a personalized vaccine from the patient's tumor cells and immune cells. This innovative therapy trains the immune system to recognize and fight cancer while complementing other treatments.
Dendritic cell therapy costs between 20,000 and 38,000 euros, varying based on additional treatments and individual needs. The price covers the complete treatment program from consultation to vaccine administration.
German clinics offer this Nobel Prize-winning treatment with minimal side effects, combining immunotherapy with traditional approaches. Patients receive care from experienced medical teams in state-certified facilities with proven success rates.
Choose treatment abroad and you will for sure get the best results!
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
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Sources:
De Gruyter academic publishing
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