Experiences & documented courses

Dendritic cell therapy: experiences from practice

How do patients experience the path from the first review of medical records through diagnostics and manufacturing to follow-up monitoring? Here we present anonymised, documented case courses and place favourable developments as well as the limits of individual experiences into context.

Important context: The cases shown are anonymised. The patients received multimodal treatments; observed courses therefore cannot be attributed to dendritic cell therapy alone. CTC values describe circulating tumour cells in the blood sample examined and are not equivalent to a complete remission confirmed by imaging. An individual case cannot predict the outcome for another patient.

What does dendritic cell therapy look like in practice?

When patients search for “experiences”, they are often interested not only in results but also in what to expect during treatment. The exact process is coordinated individually with the treating physician.

1Review of findings

Diagnosis, histology, imaging, previous therapies and the current clinical situation are reviewed in a structured way.

2Diagnostics

Depending on the case, immune status, CTC/tumour dynamics and additional laboratory parameters may be used to help interpret the course.

3Blood collection

After medical clearance, blood is collected for the individual manufacture of the dendritic cells.

4Manufacturing & administration

The patient’s own cells are manufactured in a specialised laboratory and subsequently administered according to the physician’s treatment plan.

5Follow-up monitoring

Laboratory findings, CTC/tumour dynamics, imaging and the clinical condition are assessed together in their overall context.

Anonymised case examples

Documented treatment courses

The following examples are taken from structured case documentation. Names, case IDs and identifying information are not published.

Complete remission documented

Female patient, 64 years · endometrial cancer

After initially early-stage endometrial cancer, systemic metastatic disease developed over time. In addition to surgery, chemotherapy and checkpoint inhibition, four dendritic-cell applications and immune modulation were documented.

CTC courseelevated → not detectable

Documented statustumour-free since 2025

Course: The case records describe no detectable tumour cells in blood, no clinical evidence of tumour and a stable situation.

Interpretation: multimodal therapy including a checkpoint inhibitor; the course cannot be attributed to a single treatment component.

Very strong CTC reduction

Female patient, 49 years · metastatic breast cancer

In metastatic breast cancer involving the liver, lymph nodes and bone, numerous previous systemic therapies were documented. In 2025, four dendritic-cell applications were given as part of the overall treatment concept.

CTC course720 → 10 cells/ml

Reductionapprox. 98–99%

Course: The case records describe regressing axillary lymph nodes, no new pulmonary lesions and increasing central necrosis of multiple liver metastases without clear progression dynamics.

Interpretation: systemic oncological therapy was being given in parallel. The decline in CTCs and the imaging findings must be assessed separately and together.

Partial remission / stabilisation

Female patient, 79 years · stage IV breast cancer

In metastatic breast cancer with known osseous involvement, four DCT applications and additional treatment components were documented.

CTC course280 → 80 cells/ml

Reductionapprox. 70%

Course: The documentation assesses the disease as stable overall and describes a marked reduction in tumour activity measured in the blood.

Interpretation: residual tumour activity remained present; there was no complete remission.

Marked CTC reduction

Female patient, 85 years · ovarian cancer

The initial situation was advanced ovarian cancer with diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis and a high initial tumour burden. Four dendritic-cell applications within a combined treatment concept were documented.

CTC course920 → 120 cells/ml

Reductionapprox. 87%

Course: The case was assessed as stabilised or improved; at the same time, relevant residual activity remained.

Interpretation: favourable biological development, but no complete remission.

High-grade partial remission

Male patient, 65 years · metastatic prostate cancer

In advanced PSMA-positive prostate cancer with lymph-node metastases and a previously progressive course, four monthly DCT applications as well as additional immunomodulatory measures were documented.

CTC course320 → 10 cells/ml

Reductionapprox. 97%

Course: The records describe marked stabilisation and almost complete control of circulating tumour cells detectable in blood.

Interpretation: residual metastatic disease remained clinically relevant; this must therefore not be equated with complete freedom from tumour.

CTCs no longer detectable

Male patient, 60 years · complex metastatic malignant disease

A highly complex initial situation was documented, with a pancreatic mass, lung adenocarcinoma and multiple organ manifestations. Four DCT applications were recorded during the combined treatment course.

CTC course200 → 0 cells/ml

Clinical statusdocumented as stable

Course: At the documented follow-up point, no circulating tumour cells were detectable in blood; the records describe marked systemic control.

Interpretation: CTC negativity alone is not proof of complete absence of tumour; in initially metastatic disease, imaging-based follow-up remains decisive.

When do patients report satisfaction?

A positive treatment experience can have many reasons: well-organised outpatient care, a low treatment burden, understandable communication or an objectively favourable course. From a medical perspective, however, clearly documented changes are particularly relevant – for example stable imaging, a reduction in measurable tumour activity, or a confirmed partial or complete remission.

Experience is not the same as proof of efficacy

With cancer treatments in particular, a clear distinction is important. Patients often receive several therapies simultaneously or sequentially. A favourable individual case therefore cannot establish which single measure caused the observed course. Controlled studies, tumour biology and the individual clinical context are decisive for scientific assessment.

Studies & evidence → Scientific context →

Your situation is individual

Could dendritic cell therapy be relevant to my situation?

Available medical records can be reviewed in a structured way. This does not produce an automatic treatment recommendation, but an individual medical orientation for further discussion with the treating physicians.

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