Dendritic cell therapy -
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
Conventional treatments & modern immunotherapy
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Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a group of more than 60 different lymphoma diseases that originate in cells of the immune system – usually B cells or T cells. They vary greatly in terms of growth rate, prognosis, and treatment options. Therefore, a precise diagnosis is crucial.
In addition to classic forms of treatment, dendritic cell therapy (DCT) is increasingly being used as a complementary immunological strategy.

Classic treatment options for non-Hodgkin lymphoma
1. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is often the basic treatment. The standard treatment is:
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CHOP regimen
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Variants such as R-CHOP for B-cell lymphomas (with rituximab)
The aim is to destroy tumor cells systemically.
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2. Immunotherapy with antibodies
Antibody therapies are now standard for many forms of NHL, especially B-cell lymphomas:
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Rituximab (CD20 antibody)
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Obinutuzumab
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CAR-T cell therapy for treatment-refractory cases
These therapies activate the immune system to specifically target lymphoma cells.
3. Targeted therapies
These drugs attack specific tumor mechanisms:
BTK inhibitors (ibrutinib, acalabrutinib)
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BCL-2 inhibitors (venetoclax)
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PI3K inhibitors
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They are combined individually depending on the type of lymphoma.
4. Radiation therapy
In locally confined lymphomas, radiation can be used to cure the disease or to reduce the size of the tumor.
5. Stem cell transplantation
Autologous or allogeneic – still an important option for aggressive or recurrent lymphomas.
Dendritic cell therapy (DZT) as an immunological approach to NHL
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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a disease of the immune system. Immunological therapies are therefore particularly relevant.
Dendritic cell therapy specifically activates T cells by loading the patient's own dendritic cells with tumor antigens and then injecting them.
Dendritic cell therapy procedure
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Blood collection from the patient
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Isolation of monocytes
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Cultivation in a GMP laboratory
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Loading with tumor antigens (e.g., tumor lysate)
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Maturation into activated dendritic cells
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Return via intradermal injections
Goal: to precisely target the immune response to lymphoma cells.
Combinations of conventional therapy and DZT
Immunological therapies can be combined in biologically meaningful ways, e.g.:
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• DZT + chemotherapy
Chemo reduces tumor burden → DZT can strengthen immune surveillance.
• DZT + antibody therapies (e.g., rituximab)
Antibodies mark tumor cells → DZT can activate T cells against these structures.
• DZT + targeted therapies (BTK/BCL-2 inhibitors)
These drugs alter the tumor microenvironment → DZT can complement the immune response.
• DZT + infusion-based immune system support
(e.g., glutathione, resveratrol, artesunate, selenium)
→ stabilizes immune function during intensive therapies.
Goals of dendritic cell therapy in NHL
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Activation of tumor-targeted T cells
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Strengthening of immune surveillance
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Complementing other therapies
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Supporting the immune system, which is itself part of the disease
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Improving the overall immune system during stressful phases of therapy
Individual responses vary depending on the lymphoma subtype, tumor burden, and immune status.
Dendritic cell therapy is a patient-specific immunological approach.
No promises of cure are made.
