A novel dendritic cell-based cancer vaccine produces promising results in a syngenic CC-36 murine colon adenocarcinoma model.

Background: This study was conducted to test the efficacy of a new cancer vaccine, composed of dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with an interleukin-2 gene-encoded vaccinia virus tumor oncolysate (DC-IL-2VCO) in a CC-36 murine colon adenocarcinoma model.

Materials And Methods: CC-36 tumor cells were injected subcutaneously into the left flank of four- to six-week old male BALB/c mice. The mice were divided into three groups, each of which received one of the following treatments: (1) DCs pulsed with the IL-2 gene-encoded vaccinia oncolysate (DC-IL-2VCO), (2) DCs pulsed with the tumor oncolysate alone (DC-CO), or (3) no treatment (control).

Expression of melanoma-associated antigens in human dendritic cells pulsed with an interleukin-2 gene encoded vaccinia melanoma oncolysate (rIL-2VMO).

Dendritic cells (DCs) possess the unique abilities to initiate a primary immune response and to present antigens to naïve T lymphocytes. Recently, there has been a rapidly growing interest in the use of DCs in active specific immunotherapy (ASI) for the treatment of patients with cancer. In the present study, we determined the ability of DCs to express Melanoma-Associated Antigens (MAAs) from a polyvalent Melanoma Vaccine (DC-MelVac; Patent #11221/5) developed in our facility.

The treatment of melanoma with an emphasis on immunotherapeutic strategies.

Melanoma continues to be one of the most difficult to treat of all solid tumors. Many new advances have been made in the surgical management of melanoma, including new guidelines for margins of excision, as well as sentinel node biopsy for the diagnosis of lymph node micrometastases. The search continues for an effective adjuvant melanoma treatment that can prevent local and distant recurrences.

Overcoming diabetic gastroparesis en route to kidney transplant.

Gastroparesis is a debilitating condition that affects a significant number of diabetic patients. Some of these patients have end-stage renal disease and are in need of kidney transplant. Symptoms of gastroparesis include: early satiety, pyrosis, epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting, which may lead to caloric and electrolyte deficiencies as well as significant weight loss.