Fig. 8

Anti-tumor activity of tail vein injection of peptide-loaded DC-activated CIK cell preparations (P-DC-CIK) on DU145-derived orthotopic xenograft tumors. a Schematic diagram shows the treatment scheme of tail vein injection of P-DC-CIK or NP-DC-CIK cell preparations in the DU145-derived orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft model. Luciferase-labeled DU145-Luc⁺ cells were injected into the dorsal prostate of intact male SCID mice followed by orthotopic growth for 2 weeks. P-DC-CIK or NP-DC-CIK cells were injected weekly via tail vein at the 2nd to 5th week. Orthotopic tumor growth was monitored weekly by chemiluminescence in vivo imaging. b Representative bioluminescent images of mice at 2nd to 5th week post-intraprostatic inoculation of DU145-Luc⁺ cells with tail vein injection of DC-CIK cell preparations. c Growth curve of DU145-Luc⁺ xenograft tumors. Results showed that the tail injection of P-DC-CIK but not the NP-DC-CIK control could moderately suppress the orthotopic tumor growth of DU145-Luc⁺ cells