Nobel Winner Ralph Steinman Helped Patients with Cancer

Written by patrickmaguire on October 3, 2011

For apparently the first time in the history of the Nobel prize, one of its winners has died prior to receiving notification of the award. The Nobel Committee does not give posthumous (after death) awards. Sadly, Ralph Steinman, a Canadian born scientist honored for his pioneering work in understanding the human immune system, died prior to learning of his award, according to his family: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iklEU6iZQNaX81iXFqOQBJgG3ttQ?docId=5dd680b1d7dd4e8bbd5996775080ea24. The scientist apparently actually used dendritic cell therapy (for which he received the Nobel) to treat the pancreatic cancer that ultimately caused his death.

When the human body is attacked by microscopic foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, etc, it kicks into action for our protection. One component of that response is called innate immunity, which is when our immune cells attack microbial invaders without recognizing a specific antigen. Innate immunity is like an initial shotgun blast at all the bad guys. The other type of immune response, called adaptive immunity, takes some time to occur because it’s targeted at specific antigens. Adaptive immunity is like a targeted missile. 

During the process of adaptive immunity, specific cells within the body present the foreign antigen. These are called dendritic cells and they’re the main discovery for which Raplh Steinman received his Nobel.

Over the past 10-20 years, dendritic cell therapy has taken off as a type of anti-cancer treatment in the field of immunotherapy. One example of this type of technology is the new blockbuster drug for incurable prostate cancer called sipuleucel-T (brand name is Provenge). We’ve discussed Provenge in past blogs: http://thecancermd.com/blog/page/4/.

For men whose prostate cancer has already spread outside of the prostate gland and is no longer responding to standard treatment with anti-male hormone therapy, sipuleucel-T has proven to extend their survival. The process involves taking blood from the patient to isolate their dendritic cells, which are then combined with a protein found on prostate cancer cells. This combo is then injected back into the patient where the immune system recognizes the compound loaded with antigen. 

Basically, the patient’s own immune system then goes to work destroying the now well-recognized prostate cancer cells.

Because of Mr. Steinman’s lifelong work with dendritic cells and the adaptive immune system, tens of thousands of people will have lives that are longer and/or of better quality despite major illnesses. His Nobel prize is clearly well deserved!

- Patrick Maguire, MD

Posted in Cancer Treatment, Diagnosis, & Staging | Tagged cancer, death, dendritic, immune, Nobel, Provenge, steinman