1650-Universal TumorDressed Dendritic Cells as Vaccine

Researchers have developed a personalized cancer vaccine platform by transforming universal, genetically engineered induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into functional dendritic cells. These specialized immune cells are "dressed" with MHC-antigen complexes extracted from a patient's own tumor membranes, allowing them to present a complete profile of cancer markers to the immune system. To optimize effectiveness, scientists used CRISPR-Cas9 to remove endogenous MHC molecules, preventing the vaccine from being rejected as foreign while ensuring it specifically activates tumor-killing T cells. The study further refined the cells by deleting inhibitory checkpoints like PD-L1/2, which significantly boosted their ability to trigger a potent immune response. Success was demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo models, showing that these engineered cells can effectively suppress tumor growth in both solid and blood-based cancers. This innovative approach offers a scalable, off-the-shelf solution for creating highly individualized immunotherapy without the limitations of traditional patient-specific cell collection.

References:

• Xu H, Kamei C, Gökbuget D, et al. Engineered human iPSC-derived dendritic cells dressed with tumor MHC complexes as a cancer vaccine[J]. Cell Stem Cell, 2026.