AIM: To evaluate the effect of replacing fetal cattle serum with umbilical cord plasma and application of OK-432 on dendritic cells from umbilical cord blood in vitro so as to offer a new technical way of preparation high-powered dendritic-cell-based vaccines for the cancer immunotherapy.METHODS: Human cord blood mononuclear cells(CBMCs) were cultured in RPMI-1640 containing 10% autologous plasma,GM-CSF and IL-4,some of which were supplemented with tumor lysates and/ or OK-432.MTT assay was applied to measure the antigen presenting ability of DCs in allo-MLR.Killing rates of autologous T lymphocytes induced by DCs on different target cells were measured by LDH method.RESULTS: Cells appeared typical morphology of DCs after culture and the allo-stimulate capacity of DCs and the CTL response in vitro were enhanced by treating with tumor lysates and OK-432.CONCLUSION: Mature DCs can be induced from human CBMCs by this means with fewer cytokines and less time.The tumor lysate antigens are captured by DCs treated with tumor lysates and OK-432,and presented to lymphocytes successfully,indicating a new way to develop dendritic-cell-based vaccines for clinical immunotherapy of gastric cancer and other tumors.

AIM: To study the protective effect of hepatic stimulator substance(HSS) on chemotherapeutic liver damage induced by cyclophosphamide and its possible mechanism.METHODS: The serum biochemical parameters,oxidative parameters and anti-oxidative parameters of liver tissue of male Kunming mice inoculated with S_(180) cells were measured.The pathology of the liver was observed with microscope.The weight of S_(180) sarcom was weighted.RESULTS: The elevation of MDA content of liver tissue and the less of GSH content and CAT,GSH-PX,GST,and SOD activities induced by CP were restored remarkably by HSS.The ALT and LDH activities of serum in HSS group which was compared with control group and CP group were not statistically distinctive.In the pathologic examination,spotty and focal necroses of hepatocytes in the liver of CP group were found with a great deal of inflammatory cells infiltration in the necrotic and portal areas,while the damage in the liver of HSS group was ameliorated obviously;The weight of S_(180) sarcom in CP group and HSS group was not statistically distinctive.CONCLUSION: The effect of HSS on CP-induced chemotherapeutic liver damage maybe due to anti-oxidative activity.