RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is known that patients with malignant tumor often have depressed antitumor immunity. Much information has been generated about a biologically-based therapy, which can induce or activate antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) capable of recognizing the antigens associated with the major histocompatibility complex molecules (MHC). Optimal induction of CTL seems to require contact with antigenic peptides presented by antigen presenting cell (APC). Dendritic cells (DC) are currently considered to be the most effective and professional APC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With an injection of SCC cells (1x105) to the back of C3H mouse, a consistent and immunocompetent experimental animal tumor model was achieved. DCs were successfully cultured from the bone marrow of C3H mouse, and phenotypically they expressed high levels of co-stimulatory molecules and abundant MHC. Cultured DCs were intraperitoneally injected into the tumor-established mouse. RESULTS: In the treated group, tumor sizes were smaller, infiltration to the adjacent structures were limited. T cells extracted from the spleen of the treated group showed better proliferative and cytolytic activity toward tumor cells. The results of this study suggest that DCs have an effect to suppress the growth of tumors and to induce higher T cell reactivity toward tumor cells. CONCLUSION: These results may help in proceeding further immunologic approaches to reduce the morbidity and mortality in patients with the head and neck SCC.