Dendritic cell vaccines for the treatment of prostate cancer

Advanced prostate cancer remains a disease with few options beyond palliation. Over the past few decades, our understanding of immunology has led to the development of novel therapies for the treatment of many malignancies, including prostate cancer. These generally aim to induce T-cell responses against tumor specific antigens to both reduce tumor mass and potentially avoid relapse. One promising technique is to use autologous dendritic cells, the most potent antigen presenting cell. These can be loaded ex vivo with a given antigen and subsequently injected back into the patient to stimulate the desired effect. Recent trials using these techniques have shown promise in extending survival in patients with prostate cancer. This review will discuss relevant biology behind dendritic cell therapy and highlight the key trials found in the literature.