Pet owners

Dendritic cells are a type of white blood cells and are highly specialized defense cells (“sentry cells”) of the immune system. With their extensions (dendrites) they increase their cell surface area and present foreign substances (antigens) that they have taken up as they travel through the body on their cell surface. In doing so, they activate T and B lymphocytes to mount a specific defense against foreign substances, while also regulating and controlling the immune response by activating antigen-specific regulatory T cells and eliminating T cells. Since their discovery (1973), cell-based treatment strategies for cancer have been continuously developed and improved due to their key role in the immune system.

The dendritic cells are obtained from the patient’s blood. At the veterinary practice, blood is drawn from the patient with the utmost care under aseptic conditions (closed blood collection) to prevent bacterial contamination of the blood sample. The specialized laboratory team at the PetBioCell veterinary practice isolates specific blood cells (monocytes) from the patient’s blood in a regulatory-controlled cleanroom. These are then cultured in a defined nutrient solution in an incubator. Within a few days, they mature into dendritic cells, which the veterinarian administers to the patient via injection into the skin (intradermally).

Immunotherapy based on the body’s own (autologous) dendritic cells is a viable treatment option for nearly all types of cancer. Generally, the veterinarians at PetBioCell thoroughly discuss all treatment options (tumor removal, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, complementary medicine, etc.) and their possible combinations for the specific tumor disease. Moving forward, they work with the pet’s primary veterinarian and the pet owner to develop a treatment plan that is tailored as closely as possible to the patient’s specific condition and circumstances. PetBioCell also provides detailed counseling on the patient’s prognosis and life expectancy with the same level of care. We assess the possibility of a cure. If a complete cure is no longer possible, we explore options to extend the time the patient has left with their family in their familiar surroundings. Our top priority is always to improve the patient’s quality of life; we want to give your pet valuable time but not prolong life at any cost if that would involve suffering.

PetBioCell produces standardized, quality-assured autologous dendritic cell suspensions from the blood of dogs, cats, or horses with cancer under cleanroom conditions for use in immunotherapy. The veterinarian then injects these autologous cells back into the affected donor animal.

PetBioCell produces dendritic cells for autologous cellular immunotherapy in dogs, cats, and horses with tumors and autoimmune diseases.

Based on our experience, cell-based immunotherapy is a treatment option. As early as 2009, a dissertation at the Free University of Berlin investigated the treatment of equine sarcoid using dendritic cells. A suspension of dendritic cells was administered twice, four weeks apart, to elicit an enhanced immune response. No severe local or systemic side effects were observed, and the therapy was deemed safe.

Our most recent case report on the successful treatment of sarcoid with dendritic cells was presented as a poster to the international audience of the European Society of Veterinary Ophthalmology in October 2025:  Case Report: Treatment of periorbital equine sarcoid with autologous dendritic cell vaccine, European Society of Vet. Ophthalmology (ESVO), Ghent, BE, October 2 – 5, 2025, H. Schröder, A. Merz, Telgte Veterinary Clinic.

• Cell-based immunotherapy requires only a blood draw and cell administration. These very minimally invasive procedures for animals are suitable for all types of cancer and can be performed at the veterinarian’s office or in the familiar environment of the patient’s home.
• Dendritic cells act with great precision by presenting specific characteristics (antigens) of the tumor cells to the body’s own T cells, which then specifically target and attack only the tumor. In comparison, chemotherapy and radiation therapy act systemically and are therefore less precise. As a result, chemotherapy drugs also affect other rapidly dividing cells (hair follicles, mucous membranes). Radiation therapy does not distinguish between tumor tissue and adjacent healthy tissue.
• Side effects are rarely caused by dendritic cells. Sometimes the patient experiences a brief rise in body temperature and fatigue, which indicate that the immune system has been activated.
• Dendritic cells not only have a short-term effect at the time of treatment but also induce an immunological “memory” that can recognize and fight cancer cells that appear later (recurrence prevention).
• Dendritic cell therapy can be combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy at a later time. Concurrent treatment is not recommended.

Since their discovery in 1973, more than 90,000 scientific publications have been listed in the medical database PubMed. In human medicine, approximately 1,000 scientific articles have been published annually for the past 15 years in the field of cell-based immunotherapy alone. Veterinary medicine reports on dendritic cells in pets or livestock in approximately 150 to 300 articles.

• Preliminary report on the course of the disease and previous treatment
• Additional tests and documentation, including lab results, histological/pathological findings, and imaging studies (ultrasound, X-ray, CT, MRI, photos)
• Documents can be sent via email to info@petbiocell.de

If you are interested in a detailed consultation and immunotherapy using dendritic cells, please contact the PetBioCell GmbH veterinary practice directly:

Phone: 0049 (0) 5522 / 918 25 81 (Mon–Fri: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Email: info@petbiocell.de

You should schedule your blood draw appointment after the medical history review and consultation with our veterinarians and after you have discussed and ordered the starter kit with our personal customer service team.

For each animal species, the following schedules apply due to the varying culture times of the in vitro-cultured dendritic cells. Our team will discuss all details with you and your veterinarian:

• For dogs and horses, blood draws and sample submission take place on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Cell administration takes place 9 days after the blood draw, i.e., on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of the following week.
• For cats, blood draws and shipment take place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Cell administration takes place 8 days after the blood draw, i.e., on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of the following week.

PetBioCell guarantees that the starter kit for blood collection will be delivered to the veterinary practice within 24 hours. For courier shipping of the blood sample, the veterinary practice ensures that the ice pack has been frozen for at least 24 hours.

PetBioCell arranges for the courier service to handle three shipments:

• Complete blood collection kit (starter kit) (PetBioCell → veterinarian)
• Express shipping of the blood sample (veterinarian → PetBioCell)
• Express shipping of the cell suspension (PetBioCell → veterinarian)

Express shipping is carried out according to a standardized and validated protocol within 24 hours. The blood must be drawn on the day of shipment and transported with the deep-frozen ice pack. Any deviation from the standard protocol will result in the sample being rejected during PetBioCell’s incoming inspection.

The sterile preparation of the cell suspension in a cleanroom laboratory requires that the veterinarian always performs the blood collection with the utmost care under aseptic conditions. After thoroughly shaving, cleaning, and disinfecting the puncture site, blood is collected using a closed-system method exclusively into the Monovettes provided by PetBioCell that have a valid expiration date.  After filling, the Monovette is gently swirled, and the Monovette’s tab is snapped off at the predetermined break point with an audible “click.”

Validated express shipping to PetBioCell is carried out via courier in a standardized cooler box. The ice pack must be completely frozen before shipping. The blood sample will be rejected during PetBioCell’s incoming inspection if any of the following conditions are present: shipping time exceeding 24 hours, frozen blood sample, thawed ice pack, Monovette past its expiration date, open blood collection, or bacterial contamination in the blood sample.

Since animals with tumors are generally considered to have limited ability to travel, blood collection and cell administration are ideally performed at the veterinarian’s office. PetBioCell arranges for the blood sample to be picked up at the local veterinary practice and for the dendritic cell suspension to be delivered for treatment. We always maintain close communication with the veterinarian’s office and the pet owner to ensure the best possible treatment for our shared patients.

Nine days (dogs, horses) and eight days (cats) after blood is drawn, the cells are administered at the veterinary clinic.

Of course that’s possible. PetBioCell will discuss all relevant aspects of the patient’s medical history and the option of dendritic cell immunotherapy with your veterinarian’s practice. The treatment itself is also carried out in close collaboration between your veterinarian’s practice and the PetBioCell veterinary practice. If blood collection and treatment aren’t possible at your veterinarian’s practice, we’ll provide you with a list of veterinary practices in your area that already partner with us.

On the day it is delivered by express shipping to the veterinarian’s office, the dendritic cells are injected into the skin (intradermally), causing wheals to form. The cell suspension must be stored in the refrigerator until it is administered.

The syringe containing the cell suspension must be gently swirled before injection to ensure that the cells are evenly distributed throughout the liquid. Scientific studies recommend injecting dendritic cells into the skin (intradermally) to produce wheals. Since the groin area is relatively hairless, it is recommended to administer the injection in this area. In principle, however, other body sites are also possible after shaving and disinfection. Compared to other routes of administration, dendritic cells administered intradermally appear to induce a stronger T-cell response in the lymph nodes. It is possible that, following intradermal migration, only the most mature – and thus most effective -dendritic cells reach the lymph nodes, where they stimulate T lymphocytes to fight tumors. When injected directly into the lymph nodes, nonviable and less mature dendritic cells are also administered, which induce only weak T-lymphocyte stimulation.

For tumors, administering the cells three times at monthly intervals has proven effective in sufficiently stimulating the immune system. Afterward, PetBioCell’s veterinarians consult with the pet owner and the pet’s regular veterinarian to determine whether to continue treatment at 3-month intervals.

The consultations with PetBioCell’s customer and sales advisory team and our veterinarians -during which we discuss sales and logistics issues, medical history, test results, diagnosis, dendritic cell therapy, and other treatment options for your pet – are not billed separately but are already included in the cell-preparation costs.

Billing for veterinary services is based on the rules set forth in the Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT). To receive a comprehensive estimate of the costs associated with dendritic cell therapy for your specific situation, please request a quote from our personal customer service team. PetBioCell bills you directly for the preparation of autologous dendritic cells, which is carried out in a regulatory-controlled cleanroom laboratory, as well as for the shipping of the starter kit, the blood sample, and the dendritic cell suspension. Your veterinarian’s office will issue a separate invoice for veterinary services (including blood collection and cell administration).

Dendritic cell immunotherapy can be supplemented with additional treatment options. It is important to discuss these with the veterinarians at PetBioCell in order to evaluate their effectiveness and potential impact on immunotherapy:

• Medication, including anti-inflammatory drugs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Palladia®), antibiotics, pain relievers, and IV infusions.
• Radiation therapy can be combined with cell therapy at different times.
• Chemotherapy cannot be administered at the same time as immunotherapy.
• Naturopathic methods such as acupuncture, homeopathy, or homotoxicology can be used as complementary treatments.
• The patient’s diet should be discussed and adjusted if necessary. Diet has a major influence on the patient’s metabolism and, consequently, on the functioning of the immune system.

Cell-based immunotherapy is considered by experts to be very well tolerated by patients. In most cases, you won’t notice any changes in your patient; sometimes you may even observe a noticeable “revival” very soon after treatment. Occasionally, during the first two days after administration of the cell suspension, a brief period of fatigue may indicate that the immune system is being stimulated; in very rare cases, this may be accompanied by an elevated body temperature. This usually lasts only a few hours and can be easily managed with fever-reducing medications.

Yes, there are some medications that should not be administered at the same time as dendritic cell therapy. These include, among others, chemotherapy drugs, mistletoe therapy, and annual vaccinations. After a blood transfusion, a waiting period is required before blood can be drawn for dendritic cell immunotherapy.

The veterinarians at the PetBioCell veterinary practice will discuss this in detail with you and your pet’s regular veterinarian during the initial consultation. The goal of dendritic cell therapy in veterinary medicine is to extend life expectancy while maintaining a high quality of life, rather than always guaranteeing a complete cure. In scientific studies, treatment success can be retrospectively assessed based on significantly longer survival times in treated animals compared to standard therapies.

To determine the effect of dendritic cell therapy on your pet, it is important to first observe physical reactions: these usually occur within the first 24–48 hours (mild fever, fatigue) and are a sign that the immune system has been stimulated. Subsequently, clinical (objective) criteria and those related to quality of life and general condition (subjective) are documented and evaluated. Since the therapy aims to activate the immune system and control the tumor burden, success often becomes apparent gradually.

Objective criteria monitor tumor growth and metastasis using imaging techniques, the absence of postoperative tumor regrowth (recurrence-free status), and, if applicable, specific laboratory values (tumor markers).

Pet owners subjectively report positive changes shortly after the first injections, suggesting immune activation. The patient appears more lively, shows a greater desire to play, and participates more actively in daily life (vitality). The patient exhibits an increased appetite as a sign of improved well-being. In postoperative treatment, rapid and effective healing of the surgical wound (wound healing) is observed.

The follow-up exam is usually scheduled 2 – 4 weeks after the third treatment. During the 6 – 12 months following treatment, ultrasound and X-ray exams are performed closely spaced every 3 months. Here, our veterinary team and your pet’s veterinarian will provide personalized guidance.

A blood test is primarily used to assess overall health. Many types of cancer are not detectable in a blood test. For this reason, it is only of limited use in evaluating the course of treatment. However, an increase in lymphocytes may indicate activation of the immune system; conversely, a drop below normal levels would be a warning sign of immune system weakness. A decrease in C-reactive protein (CRP) may indicate that tumor-related inflammatory processes in the body are subsiding. For this reason, our veterinarians, in collaboration with primary care veterinary practices, monitor and evaluate the course of treatment using the more informative findings from imaging diagnostics -considered the gold standard (ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, CT).

In autoimmune diseases, the immune system’s regulatory mechanisms do not function properly. The immune system has lost the ability to distinguish between “self” and “non-self.” The body’s own tissue is mistakenly identified as foreign, triggering a chronic immune response. The causes of autoimmune diseases are multifactorial and include genetic predisposition, environmental factors, changes in the microbiome, and hormonal influences. Treatments aim to control inflammation, prevent flare-ups, and limit organ damage.

Immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases based on the body’s own (autologous) dendritic cells is founded on the dual function of these cells. On the one hand, they can stimulate the immune system to fight pathogens and tumor cells. On the other hand, dendritic cells help regulate immune responses to prevent chronic inflammation and, consequently, tissue damage. This latter effect is utilized in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Dendritic cells can help restore tolerance to the body’s own structures and thereby reduce inflammatory reactions.

While in cancer treatment dendritic cells are intended to trigger an immune response against tumor cells, in the treatment of autoimmune diseases dendritic cells exert a regulatory effect on specific components of the immune system. These regulatory properties are achieved in cell culture by specific active substances such as IL-10. The resulting tolerogenic dendritic cells (tDCs) counteract the autoimmune reaction after administration.

In human medicine, tDCs have been and continue to be used in clinical trials for the following autoimmune diseases, among others: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The results are promising, but the therapy has not yet been widely established. In our veterinary practice, we have had positive results using this therapy to treat chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa (IBD), symmetric lupoid onychodystrophy (SLO) and perianal fistulas in dogs, IBD and gingivostomatitis in cats, and IBD in horses.

Due to differences in culture duration and the addition of the cytokine IL-10 two days before the tDC-suspension is shipped, the following schedules apply for each animal species. Our team will discuss all details with you and your veterinarian:

• For dogs and horses, blood collection and shipment take place on Tuesday or Wednesday. Vaccination follows 9 days after blood collection, i.e., on Thursday or Friday of the following week.
• For cats, blood collection and shipment take place on Wednesday or Thursday. Vaccination takes place 8 days after blood collection, i.e., on Thursday or Friday of the following week.

In cases of autoimmune diseases, a single administration of cells has proven effective in adequately regulating the immune system. The effect takes time to manifest. If necessary, additional treatment may be required to reinforce the effect or in the event of a recurrence of clinical symptoms.

Billing for veterinary services is based on the rules set forth in the Veterinary Fee Schedule (GOT). To receive a comprehensive estimate of the costs associated with dendritic cell therapy for your specific situation, please request a quote from our personal customer service team. PetBioCell bills you directly for the preparation of autologous tolerogenic dendritic cells, which is carried out in a regulatory-controlled cleanroom laboratory, as well as for the shipping of the starter kit, the blood sample, and the dendritic cell suspension. Your veterinarian’s office will issue a separate invoice for veterinary services (including blood collection and cell administration).

Immunotherapy with tolerogenic dendritic cells can be supported by additional treatment options. It is important to discuss these with the veterinarians at PetBioCell in order to evaluate their effectiveness and potential impact on the immunotherapy:

• Medication, including anti-inflammatory drugs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Palladia®), antibiotics, pain relievers, and IV fluids.
• Naturopathic treatments such as acupuncture, homeopathy, or homotoxicology can be used as complementary therapies.
• The patient’s diet should be discussed and adjusted if necessary. Diet has a major influence on the patient’s metabolism and, consequently, on the functioning of the immune system.

Cell-based immunotherapy is considered by experts to be very well tolerated by patients. In most cases, you won’t notice any changes in your patient; sometimes you may even observe a noticeable “revival” very soon after treatment. Occasionally, during the first two days after administration of the cell suspension, a brief period of fatigue may indicate stimulation of the immune system, which in very rare cases may be accompanied by an elevated body temperature. This usually lasts only a few hours and can be easily managed with fever-reducing medications.

Before treatment begins, a veterinarian will evaluate the patient’s current medications. There are some medications that should not be administered at the same time as dendritic cell therapy. These include, among others, chemotherapy drugs, mistletoe therapy, and annual vaccinations. After a blood transfusion, a waiting period is required before blood can be drawn for immunotherapy with dendritic cells.

You will monitor the course of treatment together with the veterinarians at PetBioCell and your pet’s veterinarian. The goal of tDC therapy is to improve the well-being and quality of life of patients with autoimmune diseases. Success often takes time to become apparent and occurs gradually. Objective criteria are used to monitor the course of the disease through diagnostic procedures.

Follow-up visits are usually scheduled for four weeks after treatment. These are also conducted by our veterinary team and your pet’s veterinarian.

A blood test is primarily used to assess overall health. Autoimmune diseases are not necessarily detectable in a blood test. For this reason, it is only of limited help in evaluating the course of treatment. A decrease in certain laboratory values, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), may indicate that autoimmune-related inflammatory processes in the body are subsiding.