OBJECTIVETo observe the in vivo antitumor activity of murine liver tumor vaccine expressing MIP-1alpha mediated by recombinant adenoviral vector.

METHODSThe infection efficacy was measured by GFP expression 48 hours after infection of Hepa1-6, and the number of cells was counted daily for 14 days. 5 x 10(6) modified Hepa1-6 cells were inoculated subcutaneously to C57BL/6 mice and the tumor-free animals were rechallenged by 2 x 10(6) wild-type Hepa1-6 cells or syngenic EL4 cells four weeks later. The tumor volume was measured twice a week.

RESULTSAdenoviral vectors could efficiently infect Hepa1-6 cells in vitro, and the in vitro growth rate of AdmMIP-1alpha modified Hepa1-6 cells was not affected; however the in vivo tumorigenicity was significantly decreased, compared with that of control vector modified Hepa1-6. Rechallenge of the tumor-free mice four weeks after administration of AdmMIP-1alpha with the parental Hepa1-6 cells resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth, but there was no significant difference when rechallenged with EL4.

CONCLUSIONSThe liver cancer cells expressing mMIP-1alpha mediated by recombinant adenoviral vector decrease tumorigenicity and elicit specific immunological protection, and could be used as an effective liver tumor vaccine.