Hepato-pericardial fistula following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for liver metastasis: a case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Recent large-scale studies have demonstrated the efficiency and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for unresectable hepatic tumors. Nevertheless, severe side effects especially relating to non-target thermal injury have occurred after radiofrequency ablation.

Case Report: We observed the development of a hepato-pericardial fistula leading to pericardial empyema after RFA of a metastatic hepatic lesion.

Tumour-dendritic hybrid cell vaccination for the treatment of patients with malignant melanoma: immunological effects and clinical results.

Hybrid cell vaccines of autologous tumour cells fused with allogenic dendritic cells (DC) combine the tumour's antigenicity with the immune-stimulatory capacity of mature dendritic cells and allogenic MHC class II molecules to activate T cell help and induce tumour-specific cytotoxic T cells. This concept was tested in a clinical trial with melanoma stage III and IV patients. Seventeen patients were evaluated: one experienced complete, one partial response and six stable disease with long survival times.

Vaccination with hybrids of tumor and dendritic cells induces tumor-specific T-cell and clinical responses in melanoma stage III and IV patients.

Hybrid cell vaccination was developed as therapeutic approach that aims at stimulating tumor-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses in cancer patients using hybrids of autologous tumor and allogeneic dendritic cells. We tested this concept and the efficacy of the vaccines in inducing clinical and immunologic responses in a clinical trial with melanoma stage III and IV patients. Of the 17 patients evaluated, 1 experienced a complete response, 1 a partial response and 6 stable disease with remarkably long survival times.