Unmasking and effectively combating cancer cells
The aims of IOZK immunotherapy are to provoke an immune response against tumor cell antigens and to overcome the camouflage mechanisms of the tumor cells. Dendritic cells as information carriers and a virus that is harmless to humans, Newcastle disease, play a key role in this.
Dendritic cells can trigger an immune response against tumor cells
Once a tumor has established itself, it develops biological camouflage mechanisms to evade the immune system's grasp. Under certain circumstances, repeated vaccinations with IO-VAC® can enable the patient's immune system to uncover these camouflage mechanisms, recognize tumour cells in the body as dangerous and fight them effectively. Similar to a conventional vaccination, the immune system can develop an immunological memory against the tumor antigens, resulting in a long-term effect.
Production of the vaccine
The first step is to take a blood sample. The IOZK laboratory cultivates dendritic cells from the monocytes - a group of white blood cells - contained in the blood. These are matured in the laboratory and "loaded" with information on tumor components and viral danger signals. After vaccination, the dendritic cells can present these tumor-specific molecules to the patient's immune system and activate so-called T-cells. Their task is to destroy diseased cells. Based on this information, the T cells can now, under certain conditions, recognize and attack the tumour cells throughout the body.
The principle of vaccination with dendritic cells, on which IO-VAC® is based, has been the subject of intensive research for years. The first drug of this type to be approved in the USA is Provenge (Sipuleucel T) against prostate cancer. However, this does not use the patient's own tumor antigens, but defined antigens. Another vaccine (DC-Vax) has shown promising results in advanced clinical trials, but has not yet been approved. This also works with dendritic cells that have been loaded with the body's own tumor lysate. However, it does not contain an oncolytic virus as an enhancer.
"In the treatment of tumor diseases, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is neither 'the tumor' nor 'the patient'. Standardized approaches that do not take the individual situation into account are only of limited benefit."
Dr. med. Katharina Sprenger
Video: Dendritic cells activate/inform T cells
Fighting cancer with viruses
Certain oncolytic viruses can only multiply in tumor cells and thus destroy them, while healthy cells can defend themselves against the virus. The Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) belongs to this group. It is completely harmless to humans: it only reproduces in human tumor cells without damaging healthy cells. The infection causes the tumor cells to send danger signals that can alert and activate the immune system. Through this mechanism, oncolytic viruses can enhance the effect of a vaccination with dendritic cells.
"The idea of using viruses in the fight against cancer is not new. More than 100 years ago, doctors observed that cancerous tumors sometimes disappeared as if by magic after a viral infection."
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Volker Schirrmacher
