OBJECTIVETo explore the adoptive immunotherapy effect of peripheral gammadeltaT cells in pancreatic cancer nude mice model.

METHODSThirty BALB/c nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously 5 x 10(5) Cap-1 cells to regularly developed hypodermal tumors, and then divided into 3 groups randomly, gammadeltaT cells, alphabetaT cells and control group. 2.5 x 10(6) gammadeltaT cells or alphabetaT cells or 100 microl RPMI-1640 were respectively injected into abdominal cavity of mice, combined with 10(4) U rhIL-2 for 3 times. Tumor volume, the survival rate and anti-carcinogenic rate of three groups were compared.

RESULTSEight control nude mice developed hypodermal tumors, which progressively increased in size, and animals had a mean survival of 88 d. Nine nude mice in gammadeltaT cells group and eight in alphabetaT cells group developed tumors (P > 0.05). Tumor growth was arrested and tumor size was reduced remarkably in gammadeltaT cells group. Mean survival was increased to 113 d with less rate of tumor metastasis and more cases of tumor necrosis in gammadeltaT cells group when compared with alphabetaT cells group and controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe anti-tumor effects of gammadeltaT cells against pancreatic cancer are better than those of alphabetaT cells and control groups, and might be promising in the adoptive immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer.