[Experimental and clinical research of cytolytic T lymphocytes specific for hepatocellular carcinoma]

To investigate a new kind of anti-tumor immunological cells and improve surgical results of hepatocellular carcinoma by anti-recurrence application, we activated T cells isolated from tumor infiltrating lymphocytes by double stimulating signals: the one was autologus HCC cells which were treated with IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha for enhancing expression of MHC class I and presented tumor antigen, and the other was costimulation signals which was from ICAM-1 and B7 molecules expressed on treated HCC cells as well as CD28 mAbs. Activated T cells which bound to HCC cells were expanded selectively as tumor specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TS-CTLs), their cytotoxic activity in vitro and anti-tumor effects in vivo were observed. Our results suggested that TS-CTLs expressed high cytotoxicity against autologous HCC cells with MHC class I restriction manner. Adoptive TS-CTLs treatment could decrease serum AFP level, inhibit ascites formation and prolong survival in SCID mice bearing human HCC. In clinical trail of 12 cases of HCC, TS-CTLs treatment was able to delay tumor recurrence after HCC resection. Our data demonstrated that TS-CTLs as new immunological treatment modality, are of great value in further application of tumor comprehensive management.