To explore the efficacy of β-GC combined with HBsAg gene-modified DC vaccine on animal model with HCC using different immunization routes.

Recombinant adenovirus vector-mediated HBsAg gene-modified DC was used to construct HBsAg-DC which was infused into C57BL/6J mice bearing HBsAg-related HCC by subcutaneous injection. Mice in group A, B and C were vaccinated with PBS, group D, E and F were vaccinated with pAd-HBsAg-DC twice before HepG₂ 22.1.5 inoculation as described above. Starting at the day of inoculation, mice were treated with daily intra-peritoneal. (ip, 1.5μg per mouse) β-GC injection in group B and E or daily oral β-GC doses(po, 15μg per mouse) in group C and F. Group A and D receiving vehicle (po) were set as control for β-GC treatment.The effectiveness of the immune therapy on tumor growth was compared among different groups.

Tumor size measured 36 days after inoculation was (364.2±3.06)mm³ in group A, (236.5±8.96)mm³ in group B, (251.0±5.76)mm³ in group C, (75.0±5.9)mm³ in group D, (35.3±4.46)mm³ in group E, and (38.5±5.47)mm³ in group F. The application of β-GC demonstrated anti-tumor activity by itself (group B and C), and also enhanced the tumor preventive effect of pAd-HBsAg-DC (group E and F). No difference in tumor growth was observed between ip and po application of β-GC.

β-GC may serve as an immune enhancer to augment the anti-tumor immunity triggered by HBsAg gene-modified DC vaccine. It's antitumor effect may be related to activation of NKT cells.