BACKGROUNDTo investigate whether autologous lung cancer tissues derived gp96-peptide complex/dendritic cell vaccine could induce peptide specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response in vitro.

METHODSA patient's tumor-derived antigens including gp96-peptide complexes and tumor cell lysate were co cultured with DCs derived from the same patient's bone marrow blood mononuclear cells. The various antigen/DC vaccines were used to stimulate peripheral lymphocytes. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) level of activated lymphocytes was detected by ELISA method and the Cr51 release test was performed to evaluate the gp96-peptide specific CTL response in three kinds of target cells including the primary cultured tumor cells, PG cells and K562 cells.

RESULTSIFN-γ could be observed from the supernate collected in all antigen groups after the cognate T lymphocytes were stimulated by various vaccines. The concentration of IFN-γ induced by gp96-peptide complexes/DC vaccine was higher than that of other groups. In addition, the killing effect of the activated T lymphocytes on patient's primary tumor cells was higher than that on PG and K562 cells.

CONCLUSIONSAutologous tumor-derived gp96-peptide complexes can induce a peptide complex specific CTL response, and the CTL response is significantly intensified after DCs are pulsed.