The prognosis of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-grade myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is limited due to the lack of therapy options and high relapse rates. Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy seems to be a promising treatment tool. DC are potent antigen-presenting cells and play a pivotal role on the interface of the innate and the adaptive immune system. Myeloid leukemia blasts can be converted to DC of leukemic origin (DCleu), expressing costimulatory molecules along with the whole leukemic antigen repertoire of individual patients. These generated DCleu are potent stimulators of various immune reactive cells and increase antileukemic immunity ex vivo. Here we review the generating process of DC/DCleu from leukemic peripheral blood mononuclear cells as well as directly from leukemic whole blood with “minimized” Kits to simulate physiological conditions ex vivo. The purpose of adoptive cell transfer of DC/DCleu as a vaccination strategy is discussed. A new potential therapy option with Kits for patients with myeloid leukemia, which would render an adoptive DC/DCleu transfer unnecessary, is presented. In summary, DC/DCleu-based therapies seem to be promising treatment tools for patients with AML or MDS but ongoing research including trials in animals and humans have to be performed.

中文翻译：

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白血病起源的树突状细胞：特化抗原呈递细胞作为髓系白血病患者的潜在治疗工具

由于缺乏治疗选择和高复发率，患有急性髓细胞白血病（AML）和高级别骨髓增生异常综合征（MDS）的老年患者的预后受到限制。基于树突细胞 (DC) 的免疫疗法似乎是一种很有前途的治疗工具。DC 是有效的抗原呈递细胞，在先天免疫系统和适应性免疫系统的界面上起着关键作用。髓细胞白血病原始细胞可以转化为白血病来源的 DC (DCleu)，表达共刺激分子以及个体患者的整个白血病抗原库。这些产生的 DCleu 是各种免疫反应细胞的有效刺激剂，并在体外增加抗白血病免疫。在这里，我们回顾了从白血病外周血单核细胞以及直接从白血病全血中生成 DC/DCleu 的过程，使用“最小化”试剂盒来模拟体外生理条件。讨论了 DC/DCleu 过继细胞转移作为疫苗接种策略的目的。介绍了一种针对髓细胞白血病患者使用 Kits 的新潜在治疗选择，这将使过继 DC/DCleu 转移变得不必要。总之，基于 DC/DCleu 的疗法似乎是治疗 AML 或 MDS 患者的有前途的治疗工具，但必须进行包括动物和人类试验在内的正在进行的研究。介绍了这将使过继 DC/DCleu 传输变得不必要。总之，基于 DC/DCleu 的疗法似乎是治疗 AML 或 MDS 患者的有前途的治疗工具，但必须进行包括动物和人类试验在内的正在进行的研究。介绍了这将使过继 DC/DCleu 传输变得不必要。总之，基于 DC/DCleu 的疗法似乎是治疗 AML 或 MDS 患者的有前途的治疗工具，但必须进行包括动物和人类试验在内的正在进行的研究。