BACKGROUNDDendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy is a new approach and effective for some malignant tumors. The aim of this study is to observe the efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) peptide-pulsed DCs in patients with refractory advanced lung cancer.

METHODSLung cancer patients with high CEA expression were enrolled into this project. Autologous DCs were generated from patients' plastic-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells and loaded with CEA 5 days later. Cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) were cultured from non-adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells. DCs and CIK were transfused to patients. Responses and toxicities were observed.

RESULTSA total of 22 patients with lung cancer received DCs immunotherapy. DCs doses were 2.5×10⁶-9.6×10⁷ (5.03×10⁶). CIK doses were 3.4×10⁸-46×10⁸. CD3, CD8, NK and IFN-γ levels obviously increased after treatment (P < 0.05). The 1-year survival rate was 68.2% (15/22). Main toxicities were fever and rash.

CONCLUSIONSDCs-based immunotherapy is feasible and safe to patients with lung cancer.

Objective To explore the effect of a new organ preservation solution with HOE642 on the apoptosis of the donor lung from a modified lung transplantation model of rabbits.Methods 24 male rabbits were divided into two groups [low potassium dextran (LPD) group and HOE group],established rabbit models for next 2-h reperfusion using LPD solution or new organ preservation solution.Detected the levles of apoptosis index and caspase-3,the expression of Fas/Fas-L and Bcl-2/Bax.Results Compared with LPD group,HOE group revealed significant lower level of apoptosis index and caspase-3 (P＜0.05),lower expression of Fas/Fas-L and Bax,and higher expression of Bcl-2 (P＜0.05).Conclusion The potential donor lung protective mechanism offered by the new organ preservation solution with HOE642 might be the inhibition of apoptosis via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.