[Effect of tumor antigen specific CTL induced by dendritic cells on a model of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice (LCI-D20)].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the cure effect of tumor antigen specific CTL on a model of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mice LCI-D20.


METHODS
Dendritic cells (DCs) were induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy people in vitro by using recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (rhIL-4) and were pulsed with tumor antigen from hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC97H. Then tumor antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were induced. By intraperitoneal injection of tumour antigen specific CTLs into the LCI-D20, the preventive and therapeutic effects of these CTLs to HCC in the LCI-D20 model were assessed. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells and phosphate buffer solution were used as controls at the same time.


RESULTS
The weights of tumors in the tumor antigen specific CTL group, in the CIK cell group and in the blank group were (1.11+/-0.63), (1.12+/-0.36) and (2.68+/-0.53) grams respectively (t = 5.18, t = 6.06, P < 0.01). The amount of blood alpha fetal protein in the tumor antigen specific CTL and CIK groups were (52.1+/-9.7) microg/L and (48.6+/-5.2) microg/L, and was (82.2+/-7.2) microg/L in the blank group (t = 17.26, t = 22.07, P < 0.01 respectively). The metastasis rates in livers were 16.7%, 16.7% and 58.3% in the tumor antigen specific CTL, CIK cell and blank control groups respectively (chi2= 4.44, P < 0.01). The survival time of the mice in the tumor antigen specific CTL group was (79.0+/-5.02) days, (73.3+/-7.0) days in the CIK group, and (52.3+/-5.2) days in the blank group (t = 14.56, t = 17.54, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Tumor antigen specific CTLs may prevent metastasis in the LCI-D20 model and prolong the survival time.
Chen
Guo-lin
GL
Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing 400010, China.
Hu
Huai-dong
HD
Ma
Ying-ji
YJ
Li
Yong-guo
YG
Xue
Qiong
Q
Chen
Min
M
Ren
Hong
H
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor