ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the anti-tumor effects induced by fusion of interleukin (IL)-18 gene transfected lung cancer cell line NCI-H460 cells with dendritic cells (DC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) DC were induced from human monocytes and fused with IL-18 transfected NCI-H460 cells. Fusion was selected using MACS microbeads. (2) Four groups (group GT, group PT, group NT and group BC) were set up. T cells activated by IL-18 gene transfected fusion or pcDNA3. 1 + vector transfected fusion and non-transfected fusion were taken as effetor cells. No effector cells was in group BC. Lactic dehydrogenase ( LDH) method was used to evaluate the antitumor effect in vitro. (3) Tumor-bearing nude mice were inoculated with effector cells mentioned above. The tumor size and weight in the 4 groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The killing rate in vitro of 3 groups were 53. 14% ,30. 10% and 31.49% , respectively. The tumor size and weight in the 3 groups were lower than group BC, among which group GT was the lowest.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Fusion of IL-18 gene transfected NCI-H460 lung cancer cells with dendritic cells can effectively induce anti-tumor immunity in the host.</p>