Abstract: Objective To prepare hybrid cells(SKOV3/DC) by fusion of dendritic cells(DC) derived from cord blood and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells; and analyze the biological characteristics and anti-tumor immunity of SKOV3/DC.Methods ① DC cells stained with PKH₂6 red fluorescence were fused with SKOV3 by means of polyethyleneglycol(PEG), and the fusion cells(SKOV3/DC) were selected with flow cytometry. ② Techniques of cell culture、flow cytometry and light microscopy were also used in characterization of growth, morphology and immunology of SKOV3/DC in vitro.Results ① The monocytes isolated from cord blood could be induced to DC. DC expressed CD1a, CD80, CD86, HLA-DR, MHC-Ⅰ molecules, but not CA125 antigen. ② SKOV3 cells expressed CA125 antigen and MHC-Ⅰ molecule but not CD1a, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR molecules. ③ The DC were fused with SKOV3 cells at a ratio of 10∶1 and the fusion rate was about 8.5%.The morphological character of the SKOV3/DC was similar to its parental cells. SKOV3/DC express both CA125 antigen and high levels of CD1a, CD80, CD86, HLA-DR, MHC-Ⅰ molecules. SKOV3/DC could divide and proliferate in vitro, but the proliferative activity was significantly lower as compared with SKOV3 cells.Conclusion ① DC precursors in cord blood could be induced to differentiate and mature in media containing different cytokines. ② SKOV3/DC have some characteristics of both parental cells. The ability of dividsion and proliferation is significantly decreased as compared with SKOV3 cells, and the characteristic of malignant growth of parental SKOV3 cells has been lost. These data about SKOV3/DC vaccine found a basis for the study of the immunotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Key words: tumor vaccine, dendritic cells, ovarian cancer, fusion cells, anti-tumor immunity