Are Dendritic Cells Effective and Safe for Treating Breast Cancer?

Chemotherapies for receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2 (ERBB2; formerly known as HER2)–positive breast cancer  frequently cause considerable morbidity. Therefore, less toxic therapies are preferable for these patients. In search of such treatments, a clinical trial involving 12 patients has evaluated the safety and efficacy of combining type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1) with anti-ERBB2 antibodies for treating early-stage ERBB2–positive breast cancer .

In the study, patients received two intratumoral doses of cDC1 (50 and 100 million cells) followed by paclitaxel and concurrent administration of trastuzumab and pertuzumab. The treatment with 100 million cDC1 doses significantly reduced anti-ERBB2 CD4 T-helper 1 blood response while increasing innate and adaptive immune responses within the tumor. Moreover, MRI results revealed nine objective, six partial, and three complete responses in…