An in vitro investigation into the cytotoxic impact of antigen-presenting dendritic cell-tumor infiltrating lymphocytes on ovarian cancer cells

Sep 21, 2026

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Objective: Establish a technical procedure to isolate tumor cells, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells (DCs) from ovarian cancer tissues or ascites, generate dendritic cell–tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (DC-TILs), and assess their specific cytotoxic activity against ovarian cancer cells in vitro. Methods: Use fresh surgical and ascites specimens from three patients; mature DCs using tumor-specific antigens, co-culture TILs with antigen-stimulated DCs, then measure cytotoxic effects. Results: TILs expand successfully; DCs are induced from ascites cells; DC stimulation markedly increases tumor-cell cytotoxicity. Conclusion: DC stimulation enhances TIL-mediated cytotoxicity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

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Pages11

Reading Time28 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Yang et al. BMC Cancer (2024) 24:1364 BMC Cancer [https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13131-7](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-13131-7) RESEARCH Open Access An in vitro investigation into the cytotoxic impact of antigen-presenting dendritic celltumor infiltrating lymphocytes on ovarian cancer cells ShengnanYang 1†, JunrongWang 1†, Zhenwu Du2, Chunhua Sheng3, Qianyu Liu 1, Xuewei Lao 1, Donghui Xu4 and Ying Pan 1* Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to develop a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of ovarian cancer while investigating the role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the context of ovarian cancer therapy. The primary aim is to establish a technical procedure for the isolation of tumor cells, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells (DCs) derived from ovarian cancer tissues or ascites. Subsequently, the focus lies on the generation of dendritic cell-tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (DC-TILs) exhibiting specific cytotoxic capabilities aimed at targeted therapeutic interventions. The cytotoxic impact of DC-TIL interactions on tumor cells was investigated through in vitro experimentation. This research aims to provide fundamental experimental insights for the future clinical advancement of TIL therapy in ovarian cancer. Methods The experimental samples included fresh surgical specimens and ascites specimens procured from three patients (ranging in age from 32 to 75), sourced from the Department of Gynecology at the Third Bethune Hospital of Jilin University. TILs were extracted through in vitro isolation from solid tumor tissues, while primary tumor cells and DCs were obtained from ascites specimens. Tumor-specific antigens derived from patient tumor cells were utilized to stimulate the maturation of DCs. TILs were subsequently co-cultured with antigen-stimulated DC cells. Subsequently, TILs with specific killing effects were obtained, and the cytotoxic impact of DC-TILs on tumor cells was detected in vitro. Results (1) TILs were successfully obtained through expansion from the tumor tissue of a patient diagnosed with ovarian cancer. (2) DCs were successfully induced from ascites cells harvested from patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer. (3) TILs significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of tumor cells following DC stimulation. †Shengnan Yang and JunrongWang contributed equally to this work. *Correspondence: Ying Pan [panying@jlu.edu.cn](panying@jlu.edu.cn) Full list of author information is available at the end of the article © The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit [http://creati](http://creati)[vecommons.org/l](vecommons.org/l)icenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Yang et al. BMC Cancer (2024) 24:1364 Page 2 of 11 Conclusion TILs have the capacity to augment the cytotoxicity directed towards tumor cells following DC stimulation. Keywords Ascites, Dendritic cells, Immunotherapy, Ovarian cancer, Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes Introduction Ovarian cancer represents a prevalent malignancy significantly impacting women’s health. Despite its compa

FAQs

What was the main objective of the in vitro study on ovarian cancer?

To develop a novel therapeutic approach by generating dendritic cell–tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (DC-TILs) and evaluating their cytotoxic impact on ovarian cancer cells in vitro.

How were TILs, tumor cells, and dendritic cells obtained for the experiments?

TILs were isolated from solid tumor tissues, while primary tumor cells and DCs were obtained from ascites specimens; tumor-specific antigens from patient tumor cells were used to stimulate DC maturation.

What did the study show after co-culturing TILs with antigen-stimulated DCs?

TILs were successfully expanded and DCs were induced, and DC stimulation significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of tumor cells.

Sep 21, 2026

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