title: Suppression of established hepatocarcinoma in adjuvant only immunotherapy: alum triggers anti-tumor CD8+ T cell response.
abstract: Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy is a new weapon in our battle against malignancies in human. Recent trials in human and research work in model animals have shown various degrees of success, suggesting its great potential for clinical use. While protocols vary, a common scheme in this category of treatment involves activation of dendritic cells, with the purpose of increasing antigen presentation and cellular immunity. Therefore, proper use of immune adjuvant is a central subject of study. We report here an unexpected finding that injection of alum, the most widely used human adjuvant, into mice carrying H22 hepatocarcinoma resulted in a significant reduction of tumor growth with extended animal survival. This effect was associated with an increased specific CD8(+) T cell activation and an inflammatory environment, yet with minimal overt side effects. Our finding suggests that use of adjuvant alone in certain established tumors can invoke protective host immune activation against the same target, which may be of value in our development of new cancer immunotherapies.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Virology, MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Virology, MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xuanyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Virology, MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute/Hospital, and National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Institute/Hospital, and National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Hongyang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Virology, MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhangmei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.|Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Virology, MOE/MOH, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; D000818:Animals; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018925:Chemokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000534:Alum Compounds; D018925:Chemokines; C041524:aluminum sulfate