What If Cancer Begins with an Immune System Breakdown?
For decades, cancer has been understood primarily as a genetic disease.
Mutations in DNA lead to uncontrolled cell growth — that much is true.
But a growing body of research suggests another critical piece of the puzzle: cancer also reflects a failure of the immune system to detect and destroy abnormal cells before they become dangerous.
Key Takeaway: Immunotherapy for cancer may work by retraining your immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer — not just today, but for the long term.
“In many cases, it’s not just a genetic disease. It’s an immunological one — Dr. Matt Halpert, Immunocine Cancer Center
The immune system routinely eliminates threats, including pre-cancerous cells, often without us ever knowing.
When it fails to do so, cancer has a chance to grow. This emerging perspective is reshaping how we think about both prevention and treatment.
This article is adapted from our podcast interview with Dr. Matthew Halpert, Director of Immunology for the Immunocine Cancer Center, and a key innovator behind their unique double-loaded dendritic cell therapy.
From the Lab to the Clinic: Dr. Matt Halpert on a Breakthrough Cancer Therapy
The Immune System and Cancer Surveillance
Your immune system is constantly scanning your body, looking for abnormal cells and clearing them out — often before you even know they existed.
This process, called immunoediting, and it works in three phases:
- Elimination – Spotting and removing abnormal cells.
- Equilibrium – Holding early tumors in check.
- Escape – When cancer learns to hide or outsmart the immune system.
Key immune players like T cells, NK cells (natural killers), and dendritic cells (messengers) help recognize and destroy dangerous cells.
If cancer develops, it’s often a sign that this early warning system failed — not because it’s weak, but because it didn’t get the right message in time.
Dendritic Cells — The Immune System’s Command Center
Dendritic cells are known as the master messengers of the immune system.
They collect information about threats, then train other immune cells — like T cells — to respond.
But in cancer, dendritic cells often don’t get the signal right, or at all.
Over the past few decades, researchers and clinics have experimented with dendritic cell-based therapies with mixed results, in part because there is no universally accepted method of preparation or delivery.
While some clinical trials have shown promise in cancers like prostate, melanoma, and glioblastoma, results often vary depending on the clinic’s approach and the quality of cell handling.
Dendritic cell therapy is not one-size-fits-all.
Unlike taking a standardized medication like aspirin, dendritic cell therapy is highly individualized — and outcomes can differ significantly between facilities.
For example, clinic protocols can differ in several key ways:
- Delivery method: Some clinics inject dendritic cells intravenously, while others target lymph nodes more precisely.
- Preparation and quality control: Timing, cell preparation techniques, and quality standards vary between programs.
- Activation technique: Certain clinics use a method called double loading, which delivers two activation signals to the dendritic cells rather than one. Early research suggests this approach may trigger a strong immune response — though it is still investigational and not widely available.
You can read more about double-loaded dendritic cell therapy here.
Ultimately, if you’re considering dendritic cell therapy, it’s important to evaluate not just what the therapy is, but how it’s being administered. Clinic protocols, scientific rigor, and physician expertise all influence outcomes.
Wondering if immunotherapy — including dendritic cell therapy — could play a role in your treatment? Speak with a Heal Navigator advisor today to explore your options.
Side Effects — Or Signs of a Working Immune Response?
Unlike chemotherapy, which harms both cancer and healthy cells, this immunotherapy activates your body’s own defenses.
If side effects occur, they’re often signs that your immune system is waking up:
- Feeling tired (your body is using energy to fight)
- Swollen lymph nodes (immune cells multiplying)
- Local discomfort or pressure (the immune system targeting the tumor)
These reactions are usually mild and short-lived — and unlike chemotherapy, you keep your hair and energy.
The Role of Immunological Memory in Long-Term Remission
Immune memory means your body remembers how to fight cancer — and reacts faster next time.
Once dendritic cells successfully train your immune system, they help create memory T cells. These cells stay on alert:
- They patrol the body for months or years
- They eliminate threats before cancer can regrow
“We’ve seen cases where markers rise briefly — then drop back down without intervention. It’s as if the immune system saw the threat, responded, and removed it. — Dr. Halpert
While long-term data is still evolving, some patients have experienced extended remissions — possibly due to the development of this immune memory.
So, Is Cancer Really an Immune Disease?
Sometimes, yes.
Especially when the immune system never saw the cancer coming.
That’s why treatments like immunotherapies like dendritic cell therapy are gaining attention.
They don’t just fight cancer — they retrain the immune system to recognize it for life.
This isn’t a silver bullet. But it’s a powerful option to add to the toolkit. And it doesn’t cancel out other treatments — it works alongside them.
The Bottom Line: Giving the Immune System a Second Chance
Your immune system is one of the most powerful tools you have. Sometimes it just needs help recognizing the problem.
By retraining the immune system, some patients are seeing new possibilities — even when conventional options have run out.
But as with any therapy, it’s important to evaluate the science, the risks, and whether it fits into your broader treatment plan.
“If you want to fight, fight with your best weapons. And the immune system, when activated properly, is one of the best.” — Dr. Matt Halpert
Want Help Exploring Immunotherapy Options?
Interested in learning more about whether immunotherapy, including dendritic cell therapy could be a fit for you? Get in touch with us today to speak with a Heal Navigator advisor.
