The immune system is not only our defense against infections—it is a complex, intelligent network that regulates inflammation, maintains cellular homeostasis, eliminates abnormal cells, and helps repair tissue. In modern medicine, immune dysfunction is now recognized as a root driver of many chronic illnesses, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Immune therapies have become an essential part of comprehensive treatment programs. Rather than targeting disease in isolation, these therapies aim to restore immune balance, retrain immune tolerance, and revitalize the body’s natural capacity to heal.
Conventional cancer therapies often weaken the immune system. Immune therapies, in contrast, aim to engage and empower the immune system to fight cancer:
- Checkpoint inhibitors (like pembrolizumab and nivolumab) release the “brakes” on immune cells, allowing T-cells to target tumors [1].
- CAR T-cell therapy modifies a patient’s own T-cells to attack specific cancer cells with high precision [2].
- Cancer vaccines aim to educate the immune system to recognize tumor-specific antigens.
Integrative immune support therapies are increasingly used to:
- Improve immune surveillance
- Reduce inflammation
- Support white blood cell function
- Mitigate side effects of chemotherapy or immunotherapy [3].
Types of Immune Therapies in Cancer Treatment
What sets integrative immune therapies apart is their emphasis on personalized, systems-based treatment:
- Targeting immune resilience, not just immune activity
- Identifying root causes: infections, toxins, microbiome imbalances, nutritional deficiencies
- Using gentle, supportive interventions: botanical extracts, peptides, IV therapies, ozone therapy, and more
This approach supports long-term remission, rather than just disease control.
A 2020 review in Frontiers in Immunology concluded that lifestyle, nutrition, and immune-modulating interventions are essential for restoring immune integrity and preventing chronic disease progression [4].
Immune therapies are no longer “adjunctive”—they are central to the effective treatment of complex chronic diseases. Whether fighting cancer, calming autoimmunity, or reversing degenerative decline, restoring immune intelligence is the key.
In the era of chronic illness, immune-centered care is not just important—it is imperative.
Key References
- Hellmann MD, et al. (2019). Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab in Advanced NSCLC. NEJM. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1910833
- Maude SL, et al. (2018). Tisagenlecleucel in children and young adults with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. NEJM. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6593722/
- Carr AC & Cook J. (2018). Intravenous Vitamin C for Cancer Therapy. Front Physiol. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6154420/
- Kotas ME, Medzhitov R. (2015). Homeostasis, inflammation, and disease susceptibility. Cell. https://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674(15)00094-3
Immune Therapies at Immunity Therapy Center
At the Immunity Therapy Center (ITC) we have 10 different, very powerful, Immune Therapies under our belt. We us them to tailor a treatment plan for the patient according to the specific condition.
- Autologous Stem Cell vs. Cancer
- ITC Riv Viral Vector
- IT-MAF (Macrophage Activating Factor)
- Dendritic Cell Therapy
- Specific Transfer Factor
- Regenerative Cell (Peptide IV)
- LAK (Leukocyte Activated by Interleukin II)
- SKCA (Specific Killer Cell Antibodies)
- MCA (Mononuclear Cell Activation)
- Intratumoral Immunotherapy
Spotlight on Dendritic Cell Therapy
One successful immune therapy from this list is the Dendritic Cell Therapy. You can find more information about this and all the immune therapies that we use at https://www.immunitytherapycenter.com/therapies/
Dendritic cells are the master regulators of the immune system, responsible for processing and presenting antigens to T cells—effectively training the immune system to recognize and attack threats such as viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells.
Dendritic Cell Therapy involves collecting a patient’s own immune cells (typically monocytes), maturing them into dendritic cells in the lab, “loading” them with tumor-specific antigens, and then reintroducing them into the body. This re-education allows the patient’s immune system to mount a precise and powerful T-cell–mediated attack against cancer cells.
Dendritic cells are uniquely capable of presenting tumor antigens to both CD4+ helper T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells. This approach creates lasting immunological memory, allowing the immune system to recognize and respond to cancer recurrence. Properly activated dendritic cells initiate a cascade of immune activation, stimulating not only T cells but also NK (natural killer) cells and B cells.
“The capacity of dendritic cells to induce potent antitumor responses positions them as a critical component of next-generation cancer vaccines.”
— Palucka & Banchereau, Nature Reviews Cancer (2012) [1]
Clinical Evidence and Applications
- Prostate Cancer: Sipuleucel-T (Provenge)
- Sipuleucel-T, an FDA-approved dendritic cell vaccine, demonstrated a 22% reduction in risk of death in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer [2].
- It was the first cell-based cancer immunotherapy to receive regulatory approval, validating the clinical potential of DC therapy.
- Glioblastoma
- In multiple trials, dendritic cell vaccines have shown improved progression-free and overall survival in glioblastoma patients when combined with surgery and chemoradiation [3].
- A landmark phase III trial published in JAMA Oncology (2022) demonstrated a 13.2-month median increase in survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients receiving DCVax-L [4].
- Melanoma, Renal Cell Carcinoma, and More
- Studies in melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer have shown encouraging results with personalized DC vaccines, especially when used in combination with other treatments like checkpoint inhibitors or chemotherapy [5].
The Future of Immune-Centered Cancer Care
Dendritic Cell Therapy represents a sophisticated, science-based innovation that empowers the immune system to do what it was designed to do—detect and destroy threats. As part of a comprehensive cancer treatment program, it offers personalized precision, low toxicity, and the promise of long-term immune protection.
In a medical era increasingly shaped by immune-based therapies, dendritic cell vaccines are not experimental outliers—they are central to the future of integrative oncology.
Key References
- Palucka K, Banchereau J. Dendritic-cell-based therapeutic cancer vaccines. Nat Rev Cancer. 2012;12(4):265–277. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrc3258
- Kantoff PW, et al. Sipuleucel-T immunotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(5):411–422. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1001294
- Prins RM, et al. Immunotherapy with dendritic cells and tumor antigen peptides in glioblastoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2013;62(1):1–10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27512953/
- Liau LM, et al. Association of Autologous Tumor Lysate–Loaded Dendritic Cell Vaccination With Survival in Glioblastoma. JAMA Oncol. 2022;8(4):636–643. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2798847
- Sabado RL, Bhardwaj N. Dendritic cell immunotherapy of cancer. Immunity. 2015;43(3):580–593. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5398335/
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.