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Dendritic cells (DCs) and leukemia-derived DC (DC leu ) are potent stimulators of various immunoreactive cells and they play a pivotal role in the (re-) activation of the immune system. As a potential treatment tool for patients with acute myeloid leukemia, we developed and analyzed two new PGE 1 -containing protocols (Pici- PGE1 , Kit M) to generate DC/DC leu ex vivo from leukemic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) or directly from leukemic whole blood (WB) to simulate physiological conditions. Pici- PGE1 generated significantly higher amounts of DCs from leukemic and healthy PBMCs when compared to control and comparable amounts as the already established protocol Pici- PGE2 . The proportions of sufficient DC-generation were even higher after DC/DC leu -generation with Pici- PGE1 . With Kits, it was possible to generate DCs and DC leu directly from leukemic and healthy WB without induction of blast proliferation. The average amounts of generated DCs and DC leu -subgroups were comparable with all Kits. The PGE 1 containing Kit M generated significantly higher amounts of mature DCs when compared to the PGE 2 -containing Kit K and increased the anti-leukemic-activity. In summary PGE 1 -containing protocols were suitable for generating DC/DC leu from PBMCs as well as from WB, which reliably (re-) activated immunoreactive cells, improved the overall ex vivo anti-leukemic activity, and influenced cytokine-release-profiles.