title: [Use of autologous tumor vaccine in preventing recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of autologous tumor vaccines in preventing recurrences of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 1999 to June 2003, 80 patients with HCC undergoing resections were randomly assigned into a tumor vaccine group (n=40) and a control group (n=40). Tumor vaccines, consisting of formalin-fixed HCC tissue fragments, biodegradable sustained-releasers of granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor, interleukin-2, and an adjuvant, were developed. Every vaccine group patient received 3 vaccinations at a 2-week interval and the control group just received the adjuvant. Delayed-type-hypersensitivity (DTH) test and recurrent rates were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients of the vaccine group and five patients of the control group were lost in the follow-up. Thirty-two patients completed the tumor vaccine procedure and no essential adverse effects occurred. 23/32 patients developed DTH responses against the fragments of HCC. The follow-up averaged 34.3 months (from 15 to 55 months). 1-, 2-, 3-year recurrence rates of the vaccine group were 12.6%, 35.9% and 54.0%, respectively; 1-, 2-, 3-year recurrence rates of the control group were 31.6%, 61.3% and 72.1%, respectively. The recurrent rate was significantly better in the tumor vaccine group than in the control group (P = 0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous tumor vaccine is a promising adjunctive modality to prevent recurrence of human HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. pengbaogang@tom.com
authors.forename: Bao-gang
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Li-jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jia-ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Ming-de
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Jie-fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor