Tumor cell-based vaccine: an effective strategy for eradication of cancer cells

Whole tumor cell-based vaccines include all potential antigen-rich cell lysates to target a specific type of tumor without the need to find the best antigen candidate in protein- or peptide-based vaccines. Preparation of whole tumor cell lysates inducing cell death and inactivating immunosuppressive cytokine secretion from the tumor cells is highly enviable. Generally, modified whole tumor cells, tumor cell-derived exosomes, autologous tumor cell-derived ribonucleic acid, and personalized mutanome-derived tumor antigen are promising immunotherapeutic approaches. Autologous dendritic cells loaded with tumor-associated antigens also induce the generation of immunological memory and antitumor response as an effective method for the treatment of cancer. The present review briefly describes tumor cell-based vaccines as a promising strategy for eradication of cancer cells. Plain language summary Tumor immunotherapy is in progress with various clinical evaluations. In recent years, cancer vaccines have been considered as an effective immunotherapeutic strategy. Cancer vaccines should overcome the immune suppression in tumors and induce both humoral and cellular immune responses. Several strategies have been developed to construct a cancer vaccine based on the use of tumor antigens delivered in the form of whole cells, nucleic acids, peptides and proteins. Among them, whole tumor cell lysates-based vaccines can significantly elicit immune responses in patients. However, the methods of their preparation influence the immunogenicity of tumor cells. Regarding the published reports, autologous dendritic cells loaded with tumor cell lysates-associated antigens induce a potent antitumor response. Although cancer vaccines are developing rapidly, they are still in phase I/II clinical trials. In this review, we focus on whole tumor cell lysates-based vaccines as an effective strategy of tumor immunotherapy and summarize tumor cell-based vaccines achieved to clinical trials.