The Dendritic Cell therapy is the scientific, safe and effective answer to Cancer Cure. This treatment has no side effects and can be compared to the anti virus system working silently inside the computers. Mutating cells (Cancerous cells) are identified and killed by DC therapy. The dendritic cells, after maturation pass the tumor information to T lymphocytes. In fact the T cells are the body's main defense against tumor cells. The dendritic cell activates the T cell, and the T cell then divides actively and effectively making an army of cloned soldiers ready to kill any cancerous or pre-cancerous cell. It maintains a constant working threshold in the body silently and also works in treating cancers at cellular level (i.e., micro-metastasis)/The best response of cell therapy is seen in post operated patients where the maximum load of tumor has been removed, and also in de-bulked tumors. In full blown cancers, or tumors that are in-operable, the cell therapy is vital in containing tumors and lessening the morbidities and improving the quality of life.
Preparation of DC Vaccines: The monocytes (a type of WBC) are extracted from the blood sample of the patient. Monocytes are cultured, exposed to maturation stimuli, and then re-infused into the patient on the 8th day of the sample collection.
DCs treated with patient's own tumor material: It is important that the patient's own tumor material be used for maturation of DCs. So, before beginning on this therapy, arrangements are made with the operating surgeon for proper collection and transport of the tumor material to the laboratory. Alternatively, the paraffin-embedded tissue or formal in preserved tissue can also be sought from your histopathologist. Further, if this too is unavailable, then other methods, like purified tumor antigen are adopted for antigen exposure.
Administration of DC Vaccine: The vaccine can be administered simply through intravenously or subcutaneously.
No Side Effects of DC Vaccine therapy: There are no side effects except that in rare cases patient may experience mild-fever lasting 1/2 days or some lethargy/weakness for a couple of days.
No contraindications: There are no contraindications to this therapy.
Who will benefit most from the DC Vaccines?: All types of cancer patients as well as in all stages may benefit with this therapy. All the same, it is better for the patients to present for the therapy early and in those patients who opt soon after surgery, the tumor load being minimal.
Approvals and Guidelines of ICMR: The treatment is under the approved Indian Council Of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.