Clarify what statement? The only other statement I posted today was about the development period for pharmaceutical drugs. To clarify my statement in reference to DCVax-L, take a look back at some recent history of cell-based science in medicine…
Looking back, we can see how some aspects of the technology have advanced and are currently advancing further!
It is interesting in the old interview excerpt linked below how Dr. Steinman spoke about the first-generation of DC technology and how further development would follow. He explained that the prostate vax only addressed a single antigen.
It’s also interesting to consider the combination technologies that are now emerging as well!
The first checkpoint inhibitor was approved by the FDA in 2011, the same year Dr. Steinman was awarded the Nobel Prize. Interestingly, the researchers behind PD1 blockade technology were also awarded the Nobel Prize.
“The key aspect of DCVax-L is that it does not target a specific antigen but rather a wide array of antigens present in the tumor lysate. This approach is based on the understanding that every tumor is unique, with its own distinct set of mutations and antigens. By using the tumor lysate, DCVax-L can potentially stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack a broad spectrum of tumor-specific antigens.
Provenge (Sipuleucel-T) is a therapeutic cancer vaccine used for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Unlike broad-spectrum immunotherapies like DCVax-L, Provenge targets one specific antigen: Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP), an enzyme expressed in most prostate cancer cells.
The treatment involves extracting a patient's dendritic cells and exposing them to a fusion protein called PA2024, which is a combination of PAP and an immune-stimulating factor. The activated dendritic cells are then reinfused into the patient, where they are intended to stimulate the immune system to attack cells expressing PAP.
In summary, Provenge specifically addresses one key antigen associated with prostate cancer—Prostatic Acid Phosphatase. This approach is different from therapies like DCVax-L, which aim to target a wide range of tumor-specific antigens.” —ChatGPT