Assessment of fusion cells from patient-derived ovarian carcinoma cells and dendritic cells as a vaccine for clinical use.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a protocol that allowed the successful generation of DC and OVCA cells, fusion of these two cell types and assessment of stimulatory ability of the fusion cells for clinical use.


METHODS
Ovarian cancer (OVCA) cells and dendritic cells (DC) were isolated or generated from 22 patients with OVCA and subsequently fused with PEG. The stimulatory ability of fusion cells including T cell proliferation and induction of cytotocic T lymphocytes (CTL) was assessed. In addition, the impact of radiation, freezing and thawing of the fusion cells was evaluated.


RESULTS
OVCA cells derived from 22 patients were successfully fused with autologous DC. The created heterokaryons expressed tumor-associated antigens, such as MUC1 and CA-125, and DC-derived MHC class II and costimulatory molecules. The fusion cells were functional in stimulating the proliferation of autologous T cells. In addition, CD4 and CD8 T cells derived from patients with ovarian cancer were stimulated by fusion cells and produced IFN-gamma as demonstrated with intracellular staining. Significantly, T cells primed by fusion cells produced MHC class I-dependent lysis of autologous ovarian tumor cells. One cycle of fusion-cell stimulation can maintain the CTL activity up to 25 days.


CONCLUSIONS
The fusion of human OVCA cells and DC created immunogenic cells capable of stimulating CD4 and CD8 T cells. The effects of the processes required for preparing a vaccine for clinical use, including freezing and thawing and irradiation, do not interfere with the immunogenic properties of the fusion cells.
Koido
Shigeo
S
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Nikrui
Najmosama
N
Ohana
Masaya
M
Xia
Jianchuan
J
Tanaka
Yasuhiro
Y
Liu
Chunlei
C
Durfee
John K
JK
Lerner
Adam
A
Gong
Jianlin
J
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000379:methods*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte