How DCVax-Direct Overcomes Local and Systemic Tumor Immune Suppression.
(Reprinted for a better sticky title.)
I'm going to try and explain this at a more digestible level -- per request.
1. DCVax-Direct (Dendritic cells) is/are injected into a cancer tumor.
2. DCVax immediately secretes (releases) massive amounts of cytokines (natural chemicals) that kill tumor cells, create inflammation and signal the innate (early) immune system (e.g. Natural Killer Cells) to respond. This is just the beginning.
3. The DCVax dendritic cells start nibbling on the dead tumor debris. Because these are special dendritic cells, the tumor cannot use its normal toolkit of different cytokines (natural chemicals) to stop the dendritic cell from ingesting this dead tumor debris. Just call them the teflon DCs.
4. After dining on the tumor debris, the dendritic cell processes the dead tissue into tinier fragments scientists call antigens, and the DC actually displays these dead tumor parts (antigens) on the dendritic cell surface. Again, normally the tumor environment would stop or interfere with dendritic cells trying to process and display dead tumor debris (antigens), but not our DCVax dendritic cells. They are like super-mailmen undeterred by local lousy conditions, and intent on making their appointed rounds.
5. Now the dendritic cells escape the tumor micro-environment laden heavy with a dense coating of tumor antigens on their surfaces. Again, here the DCVax-Direct dendritic cell carries far more antigens packed upon its surface than any common dendritic cell might.
6. Next, the dendritic cell literally crawls through the extracellular matrix toward a nearby lymph node. Again, the DCVax dendritic cell is not slowed by the prior tumor environment attempts to weaken it before its journey.
7. Upon arrival at the lymph node, most dendritic cells would have been previously weakened by chemicals released by the tumor microenvironment both inside and outside the tumor; instead, the DCVax dendritic cell is still completely able to (hyper) activate t-cells and b-cells to multiply and attack the intended target.
8. These t-cells and b-cells are so well instructed/activated that they immediately proliferate into the millions and seek out tumor cells throughout the body.
9. The primary tumor, now weakened by the dendritic cytokines and innate immune system, is attacked by the SUPER t-cells and b-cells. Next, other tumors throughout the body are likewise attacked.
10. These members of the adaptive immune system are not fooled or blocked by the tumor, as non-DCvax activated t and b-cells might otherwise be. They finish off the tumors and store their description in long lived memory cells that will mount a faster immune system attack should the same cancer try to return.
Respect Risk. Conduct Your Own Due Diligence. Manage your assets wisely. Diversify.
