Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors

Authors

• Camille Baumrucker, Department of Surgery, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
• Theresa Relation, Department of Breast Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
• Brian J. Czerniecki, Department of Breast Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-1-2026

Journal

Surgical oncology clinics of North America

Volume

35

Issue

2

DOI

10.1016/j.soc.2025.10.005

Keywords

Cancer; Dendritic cell; Immunotherapy; Tumor microenvironment; Vaccine

Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells that connect innate and adaptive immunity, influencing tumor microenvironments by activating T cells, NK, and NKT cells, and directly killing tumor cells. They are being explored as immunotherapies in cancers like melanoma, breast, prostate, brain, and blood cancers with over 300 clinical trials to date. Intratumoral injection shows promise for its direct effects. The only FDA-approved DC therapy, sipuleucel-T, increases survival in prostate cancer. Further DC trials are ongoing, often combining DCs with other available immunotherapies. Early-stage disease is an emerging target for DC therapy. Further research is needed to optimize these approaches.

APA Citation

Baumrucker, Camille; Relation, Theresa; and Czerniecki, Brian J., "Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Solid Tumors" (2026). GW Authored Works. Paper 9153.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/9153

Department

School of Medicine and Health Sciences Resident Works