Researchers have shown that fresh and vital dendritic cells can be introduced into the body in the form of a vaccine. If cancer is present, inoculation with new dendritic cells alerts the immune system to the presence of cancer and restarts proper immune function. This serves to mobilize the exceptional power of the immune system to identify cancer and combat it.

These dendritic cells are cultured from the patient’s own white blood cells (so they are described as “autologous”). Initially, after a simple blood draw, the blood is sent to a high-tech medical laboratory where specially trained cell biologists and technicians separate out certain white blood cells (monocytes) from the blood. These cells are then cultured and transformed in seven days into a new generation dendritic cells.

This new generation of vital, activated dendritic cells is re-introduced into the patient’s body through simple intractaneous injections as shown above. The results are remarkable by any standard, increasing immune response, patient survival, and quality of life.

During the transformation of monocytes into dendritic cells in the laboratory, it is possible to specifically sensitize those cells to the patient’s cancer if tumor tissue has been preserved during the patient’s surgery. If the tumor tissue is transported to the Center following surgery, it possible to isolate the specific tumor antigens (the cancer’s “ID”) directly from the tumor tissue.

When the dendritic cells are exposed to these tumor-specific antigens, they “memorize” this particular ID. When they are reintroduced back into the body, the dendritic cells are “imprinted” specifically with the ID of the cancer cells to be destroyed. This process of educating the dendritic cells is described as “loading” the dendritic cells.

However, only about 1% of all cancer patients seeking treatment at the Medical Center Cologne in Germany have suitable tumor tissue available. Yet the current success rate with dendritic inoculations is exceptional by any standard.

At the Medical Center Cologne, we like to use fresh tumor tissue whenever possible. The task of the dendritic cells is to recognize cells that look different. When they identify a deviant cell, the dendritic cells signal the immune system to destroy the cancer. By focusing the immune system specifically on the actual cancer cells of the patient, we are able to achieve an even stronger, targeted immune response. In case we have suitable tumor tissue available, we then load about 50% of all dendritic cells and the other 50% we leave “naive” so that these dendritic cells can also recognize other tumor specific antigens than present in the tumor tissue sample. In this way, it is very likely that all possible tumor cells can be recognized by these dendritic cells.

All healthy individuals continuously produce cancer cells throughout their lives. These cells occur on an ongoing basis and because they develop from within the body, they are referred to as autologous. Malignant cells result from the effects of mutations and viruses, and exposure to carcinogens ranging from radiation or, tobacco smoke, to pesticides, and food colorings and preservatives, just to mention a few.

It is the primary task of the cellular immune system to detect these cancer cells early and destroy them. It should be understood that in any human being, cancer cells develop by the thousands every day. As long as the immune system can detect early, and contain the flow of newly emerging cancer cells, one can go through life without ever developing clinical cancer. Systemic immunodeficiency is observed in patients with advanced malignant disease.[ ]

When cancer occurs, by definition the immune response is suppressed, or there has been an excessive exposure to a carcinogen. Impaired immune function often involves a drop in the number and/or the function of immune cells available to effectively detect or kill cancer cells.

Dendritic cells are one of the keys to an effective immune response to cancerous cells. The dendritic cells migrate throughout the tissues of the body, checking for abnormal cells. Dendritic cells also target cells with the potential to become malignant, due to chronic infection by a virus (for example a chronic viral infection in the cervix such as human papilloma virus (HPV) which can develop into a malignancy). When an abnormal cell, such as a cancer cell, has been detected the dendritic cell travels to a nearby lymph node and presents the “ID” (the specific antigen profile) of the cancer cell to be destroyed.

If the immune system is no longer able to recognize cancer cells, it cannot destroy malignant cells as they develop day to day. When that occurs, cancer can gain a foothold and grow unchecked. Tumor cells, which may remain undetected for years, are referred to as subclinical cancer. Over time, tumors can continue to develop without detection and amass.

Robert Gorter, MD, PhD, founder and
director of the Medical Center Cologne

Dendritic Cell Research

More than 250 research studies have confirmed the effectiveness of this approach to immunotherapy in cancer treatment. Study after study has shown that dendritic cell therapy provides “a significant prolongation in survival.”[i] American studies of dendritic cell therapy[ have been conducted at major universities including Harvard Medical School, Stanford, UCSF Medical School, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, and University of Texas. In May 2010, the FDA hasapproved dendritic cell therapy[ in patients with metastatic prostate cancer. [

There is broad agreement that dendritic cell therapy [increases the number of T-cells in the body, which results in a stronger immune response[i vi xiii] Italian researchers reported, “Dendritic cell targeting has recently been shown to confer strong and protective cytotoxic T cell-based immunity.”[ ]

Studies at research centers around the world have documented the benefits of dendritic cell therapy for many forms of cancer including brain tumors,[ix ]eukemia,[ix ] lymphoma,[xiii ] melanoma,[vi xiii] and a range of other malignancies including cancers of the breast,[xviii] gastrointestinal tract,[vi xiii] liver,[v] lungs,[vii ]pancreas,kidneys,[i xvii] and thyroid.[iv] In the U.S., a controlled phase II study of metastatic prostate cancer conducted in 2009 documented the effectiveness of dendritic cell vaccinations for prostate cancer [xiv]

Current Research

The most recent studies have found that dendritic cell vaccine significantly prolong patient survival. For example, a recent French study involving 56 cancer patients reported patient survival averaging almost 4 years.[xv]

In a Chilean study of 50 patients, those with Stage III cancer survived an average of 4 years. Among those with Stage IV cancer, 60% responded positively to the therapy and lived almost 3 years.[xvi] This is an exceptionally positive result, since life expectancy of Stage 4 patients is usually measured in weeks or months. Each of these studies involved some form of dendritic cell vaccine.

A Danish study found that dendritic cell inoculation can double the number of T cells and NK cells in the body in as little as 4 weeks following the injection.[xviii] According to British researchers at the U.K. Institute for Cancer Studies, “Dendritic cells are the most potent of all antigen-presenting cells, with the capacity to take up, process, and present tumor antigens to T cells and stimulate an immune response, thus providing a rational platform for vaccine development. ”[v] Japanese researchers conclude, “Dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens have been emerging as a new strategy in cancer treatment.”[vi]

At the Medical Center Cologne, patients with Glioblastoma multiforme, 48% experience complete, long-lasting remission and another 24% experience a prolonged period of partial remission or stable disease. This is remarkable in the context of the 5% one-year survival rate reported in the medical literature for the average patient diagnosed with stage IV brain tumors die within the first year of diagnosis, although some patients, chemotherapy (Temodal) and radiation experience an additional 6 months life expectancy.[ ]

In patients with Stage IV breast cancer, approximately 26% to 28% still go into complete and sustained remission, and another approximately 48% experience partial remission with improved quality of life and significantly prolonged life expectancy.

This nontoxic immune therapy offers an important option in cancer treatment. Dendritic cell vaccines provide another form of treatment for conditions that cannot be addressed with standard chemotherapy or radiation, such as metastatic renal canceri or melanoma. [xiv]

The dendritic cell vaccine can be a life-prolonging therapy for Stage III and IV patients and for the vast majority of patients enhances quality of life significantly.

Dendritic cell therapy has no side effects for me, except for a touch of flu, which means that the treatment is catching on. It does cause a temporary fever, which usually starts about an hour after the injection. Over the course of eight hours, the fever rises a little, in my case up to about 39.5 C (102 F).

Somehow it feels fine—I feel as though something positive is happening—I don’t feel ill. Although it’s a real fever, somehow my body knows that I need this. And the results are fantastic. My MRI scans over the past five years have confirmed that the treatment has been successful.

In my case, the dendritic cell therapy’s symptoms were minimal and lasted no more than two days. The hyperthermia was uncomfortable for me personally, but it only took three hours. There were no side effects from the treatment. After that I felt better and could do what I wanted. So the treatment did not exhaust me and because I was not exhausted, it was much easier to stay optimistic.

Harmen Wagenmakers, long-time survivor of
Stage IV bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)

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In terms of dendritic cell therapy, I had the first six treatments in four weeks. I would receive the injection and then after an hour and a half, I would start getting a fever. Before I got home, I would have a fairly high fever. It wasn’t unpleasant—it never made me feel weak, whereas normally a fever might wear me down. Once I lay down and close my eyes, I always fall asleep fairly quickly.

When I wake up the next day or night, it has already subsided a bit. I always develop a mild headache, but I don’t take anything for it because the headaches are bearable. I take it easy that day, go for a walk, and get some fresh air—and in the evening it’s gone. That’s it. Those are the only side effects I’ve ever experienced from this therapy.

Karl-Heinz Hagemeyer, five-year survivor,
Stage IIIb metastatic prostate cancer

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After I had lung surgery to remove some additional tumors, we brought the material from the second lung to Cologne, because it contained active tumor cells. That tissue was used to make the dendritic cells.

After I received the dendritic therapy, I recovered quickly and the next scans confirmed that all the cancer was gone. All the scans since then have been good news. The radiologist said: “We don’t believe in miracles, but this sure looks like one.”

Wim Koosterboer, five-year survivor of
hepatitis B and HBV-associated primary liver
cancer (HCC) with lymph, liver
and lung metastases

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