Antitumor effect of immunizations with fusions of dendritic and glioma cells in a mouse brain tumor model

The authors studied antitumor immunity conferred by fusions of dendritic and glioma cells in a mouse brain tumor model. Previous immunization with fusion cells (FCs) prevented tumor formation on challenge with glioma cells in the flank or in the brain. Efficacy was decreased when studies were performed in mice depleted of CD8(+) cells. In a treatment model, FCs were injected subcutaneously after tumor development in the brain. The administration of FCs alone had limited effects on survival of mice bearing brain tumors. Importantly, however, administration of FCs and recombinant interleukin-12 (rIL-12) remarkably prolonged the survival of mice with brain tumors. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity against glioma cells from immunized mice was also stimulated by coadministration of FCs and rIL-12 compared with that obtained with FCs or rIL-12 alone. These data support the therapeutic efficacy of combining FC-based vaccine therapy and rIL-12.