title: Immunotherapy by autologous dendritic cell vaccine in patients with advanced HCC.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dendritic cells (DCs) could be used as potential cellular adjuvant for the production of specific tumor vaccines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our study was aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of autologous pulsed DC vaccine in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients in comparison with supportive treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with advanced HCC not suitable for radical or loco-regional therapies were enrolled. Patients were divided into 2 groups, group I consisted of 15 patients received I.D vaccination with mature autologous DCs pulsed ex vivo with a liver tumor cell line lysate. Group II (control group, no. 15) received supportive treatment. One hundred and 4 ml of venous blood were obtained from each patient to generate DCs. DCs were identified by CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR expressions using flow cytometry. Follow up at 3, and 6 months post injection by clinical, radiological and laboratory assessment was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvement in overall survival was observed. Partial radiological response was obtained in 2 patients (13.3 %), stable course in 9 patients (60 %) and 4 patients (26.7 %) showed progressive disease (died at 4 months post-injection). Both CD8(+) T cells and serum interferon gamma were elevated after DCs injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autologous DC vaccination in advanced HCC patients is safe and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Kasr Al-Aini, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mervat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Ansary
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mogawer
authors.forename: Samah Abd
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Elhamid
authors.forename: Sahr
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alwakil
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aboelkasem
authors.forename: Hatem El
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Sabaawy
authors.forename: Olfat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Abdelhalim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D007371:Interferon-gamma