Enhanced dendritic cells for cancer immunotherapy

1. A method of treating a cancer in a subject, the method comprising:

obtaining an initial enriched population of dendritic cells from the subject;

contacting the initial enriched population of dendritic cells with:

dead tumor cells; and

an antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof that binds to macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO), thereby preparing a population of enhanced dendritic cells; and

administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the enhanced dendritic cells, thereby treating the cancer in the subject.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is solid or hematopoietic-derived tumor type.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of neuroblastoma, melanoma, sarcoma, and renal cell cancers.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dead tumor cells are from a tumor in the subject.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dead tumor cells are from a cancer of the same type as the cancer in the subject.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the dead tumor cells are from a cell line made from cells of a cancer of the same type as the cancer in the subject.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a non-human animal or a human.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the route of administration is selected from the group consisting of subcutaneous, intradermal, and subdermal.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering one or more additional treatments to the subject.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising administering one or more additional doses of the enhanced dendritic cells.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering one or more additional doses of the enhanced dendritic cells.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a subject having a cancer.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the subject for tumor growth, tumor regrowth, or survival.