Dendritic cell (DC)
vaccines induce specific immune responses that can selectively eliminate target cells. In recent years, many studies have been conducted to explore DC vaccination in the treatment of
hematological malignancies, including
acute myeloid leukemia and
myelodysplastic syndromes, as well as other nonleukemia
malignancies. There are at least two different strategies that use DCs to promote antitumor immunity: in situ vaccination and canonical vaccination. Monocyte-derived DCs (mo-DCs) and
leukemia-derived DCs (DCleu) are the main types of DCs used in
vaccines for AML and MDS thus far. Different
cancer-related molecules such as
peptides,
recombinant proteins, apoptotic leukemic cells, whole
tumor cells or lysates and DCs/DCleu containing a vaster antigenic repertoire with
RNA electroporation, have been used as
antigen sources to load DCs. To enhance DC
vaccine efficacy, new strategies, such as combination with conventional
chemotherapy, monospecific/
bispecific antibodies and immune checkpoint-targeting
therapies, have been explored. After a decade of trials and tribulations, much progress has been made and much promise has emerged in the field. In this review we summarize the recent advances in DC
vaccine immunotherapy for AML/MDS as well as other nonleukemia
malignancies.