Cure of colon cancer metastasis in rats with the new lipid A OM 174. Apoptosis of tumor cells and immunization of rats

The antitumoral effect of the new lipid A OM 174 was investigated in a model of colon cancer in rats. Peritoneal carcinomatosis were induced in BDIX rats by intraperitoneal injection of syngeneic PROb cancer cells. The treatment started 2 weeks later, when rats had macroscopic peritoneal nodules. An antitumoral effect was first obtained with OM 174 intraperitoneally injected, then an intravenous treatment was developed. When injected 15 times intravenously, at the dose of 1 mg/kg, 2 days apart, OM 174 induced the complete regression of tumors and hemorrhagic ascitis in 90% of the tumor-bearing rats, whereas all the untreated rats died of their tumors. To our knowledge, this treatment is the most effective ever applied to macroscopic tumors. Furthermore, the treatment induced the immunization of rats since the reinjection of PROb tumor cells in OM 174-cured rats did not cause the formation of new tumors while injection of another syngenic colon tumor cells did. Only in treated rats tumors were infiltrated with lymphocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. The treatment did not increase necrosis but generated apoptotic areas. OM 174 was not directly toxic for tumor cells, and thus the observed effect involved the host-mediated antitumor reaction. Therefore we hypothesize that OM 174 therapy induces tumor cell apoptosis, stimulates the phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies and then activates immune system by antigen presentation.     

Superantigen-induced T cell death by apoptosis: analysis on a single cell level and effect of IFN-gamma and IL-4 treatment

BACKGROUND: A role of bacterial superantigens in several chronic inflammatory diseases has previously been proposed. Many of these diseases are associated with an imbalance of the T helper cell subsets and their cytokine production. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors were incubated with various concentrations of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) with or without IL-4 or IFN-gamma. After different time points cell activation, proliferation, Fas expression, cytokine release and cell death via apoptosis were detected. RESULTS: SEB treatment resulted in sequential T cell activation, proliferation, Fas expression, cytokine release, subsequently followed by cell death via apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This biphasic effect occurred preferentially in SEB-responsive cells represented by the expression of Vbeta3 and Vbeta12 on T cells. A strong relationship between T cell activation and apoptosis was observed. The amplitude between these events increased with the dose of SEB. The highest rate of apoptotic T cells was observed at a dose of 1,000 ng/ml SEB. Addition of IFN-gamma to SEB-treated cells significantly reduced the rate of apoptotic cells, whereas IL-4 prevented apoptosis only in SEB-untreated cells. CONCLUSION: These results support the concept that the dose of superantigen exposure determines the rate of T cell proliferation and subsequent cell death. This T cell immune response is modulated by the presence and the type of cytokines.     

凋亡细胞体外抑制T细胞活化

目的：研究凋亡细胞对Ｔ细胞活化的影响。方法：以ＣｏｎＡ刺激小鼠脾细胞增殖体系为研究对象,观察凋亡细胞预处理后对ＣｏｎＡ刺激的脾细胞ＣＤ６９表达的影响。结果：凋亡细胞可以抑制Ｔ细胞活化,而活细胞或坏死细胞却不能。同时抑制效果与凋亡种类诱导方式无关,而与凋亡细胞数量密切相关。结论：研究证明了凋亡细胞可以主动抑制Ｔ细胞活化,这一发现拓宽了目前对凋亡的认识,表明凋亡细胞主动调节免疫反应在一些生命的基本现象     

Antigen-induced B cell apoptosis is independent of complement C4

Deficiencies in early complement components are associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and therefore early complement components have been proposed to influence B lymphocyte activation and tolerance induction. A defect in apoptosis is a potential mechanism for breaking of peripheral B cell tolerance, and we hypothesized that the lack of the early complement component C4 could initiate autoimmunity through a defect in peripheral B lymphocyte apoptosis. Previous studies have shown that injection of a high dose of soluble antigen, during an established primary immune response, induces massive apoptotic death in germinal centre B cells. Here, we tested if the antigen-induced apoptosis within germinal centres is influenced by early complement components by comparing complement C4-deficient mice with C57BL/6 wild-type mice. We demonstrate that after the application of a high dose of soluble antigen in wild-type mice, antibody levels declined temporarily but were restored almost completely after a week. However, after antigen-induced apoptosis, B cell memory was severely limited. Interestingly, no difference was observed between wild-type and complement C4-deficient animals in the number of apoptotic cells, restoration of antibody levels and memory response.     

Dendritic cells present an intracellular viral antigen derived from apoptotic cells and induce a T-cell response

We investigated if dendritic cells (DCs) were able to present intracellularly located antigens derived from apoptotic cells to T cells, thereby inducing a CD4+ and a CD8+ response. A transfected cell line with the cytomegalovirus-derived protein pp65 was triggered to go into apoptosis by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation, and after the uptake of apoptotic cells by DC, the activation and proliferation of T cells were determined. We found that DC efficiently phagocytosed apoptotic cells and induced a CD4+ and a CD8+ T-cell response specific for the viral protein pp65. This mechanism can be useful for vaccination studies to induce an antiviral immune response.     

Ox40-ligand has a critical costimulatory role in dendritic cell:T cell interactions

The tumor necrosis factor family molecule Ox40-ligand (Ox40L) has been identified as a potential costimulatory molecule and also has been implicated in T cell homing and B cell activation. To ascertain the essential functions of Ox40L, we generated and characterized Ox40L-deficient mice. Mice lacking Ox40L exhibit an impaired contact hypersensitivity response, a dendritic cell-dependent T cell-mediated response, due to defects in T cell priming and cytokine production. In contrast, Ox40L-deficient mice do not have defects in T cell homing or humoral immune responses. In vitro, Ox40L-deficient dendritic cells are defective in costimulating T cell cytokine production. Thus, Ox40L has a critical costimulatory function in vitro and in vivo for dendritic cell:T cell interactions.     

In vivo elimination of viral superantigen-activated CD4+ T cells: apoptosis occurs at a distance from the activation site

Local injection of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) induces a local immune response, with activation of viral superantigen (vSAG)-specific T cell subsets followed by their clonal deletion. We investigated the fate of vSAG-reactive T cells following footpad injection of MMTV(SW) to mice. Activated T cells accumulated in draining lymph nodes. However, we demonstrated that apoptosis did not occur at the activation site, on the contrary of what has been shown after bacterial SAG activation. Although activated T cells were already shown to have the capacity to migrate to the gut, the fate of gut homing cells remains unclear. We demonstrate that the number of vSAG-specific T cells activated in the periphery was increasing in the follicles of gut-associated lymphoid organs, together with the number of apoptotic cell clusters. These results strongly suggested that gut-associated lymphoid tissue was the specific graveyard for apoptotic vSAG-activated CD4 T cells.     

Tumor cell apoptosis induces tumor-specific immunity in a CC chemokine receptor 1- and 5-dependent manner in mice

The first step in the generation of tumor immunity is the migration of dendritic cells (DCs) to the apoptotic tumor, which is presumed to be mediated by various chemokines. To clarify the roles of chemokines, we induced apoptosis using suicide gene therapy and investigated the immune responses following tumor apoptosis. We injected mice with a murine hepatoma cell line, BNL 1ME A.7R.1 (BNL), transfected with HSV-thymidine kinase (tk) gene and then treated the animals with ganciclovir (GCV). GCV treatment induced massive tumor cell apoptosis accompanied with intratumoral DC infiltration. Tumor-infiltrating DCs expressed chemokine receptors CCR1 and CCR5, and T cells and macrophages expressed CCL3, a ligand for CCR1 and CCR5. Moreover, tumor apoptosis increased the numbers of DCs migrating into the draining lymph nodes and eventually generated a specific cytotoxic cell population against BNL cells. Although GCV completely eradicated HSV-tk-transfected BNL cells in CCR1-, CCR5-, or CCL3-deficient mice, intratumoral and intranodal DC infiltration and the subsequent cytotoxicity generation were attenuated in these mice. When parental cells were injected again after complete eradication of primary tumors by GCV treatment, the wild-type mice completely rejected the rechallenged cells, but the deficient mice exhibited impairment in rejection. Thus, we provide definitive evidence indicating that CCR1 and CCR5 and their ligand CCL3 play a crucial role in the regulation of intratumoral DC accumulation and the subsequent establishment of tumor immunity following induction of tumor apoptosis by suicide genes.     

Distribution of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells in human non-small cell lung carcinoma in relation to apoptosis

Host defense mechanisms play important roles in suppressing the development and growth of tumors. It is known that S‐100 protein‐positive immature dendritic cells (S100DC), as antigen presenting cells (APC), and macrophages have roles in the immune responses to tumor growth. Mediators such as nitric oxide are also important in the surveillance against cancer. We examined the distribution of S100DC and CD68‐positive macrophages (CD68MØ) immunohistochemically to compare the condition of apoptotic tumor cells in 69 patients with human non‐small cell lung carcinoma. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS) in tumors was also studied. Unlike macrophages, S100DC were distributed predominantly in cancer nests. In the areas with infiltration of ‘many’ S100DC (i.e. more than 10 DC/HPF), we found two distinct patterns of tumor infiltration: scattered and aggregated infiltration of DC in tumor nests. In areas of scattered S100DC distribution, only a few apoptotic tumor cells could be detected. However, in the areas of DC aggregations, apoptotic tumor cells were significantly more abundant (P = 0.0491). In contrast to S100DC, the distribution and density of CD68MØ were associated with iNOS expression of tumor cells (P < 0.0001), but not with distribution of apoptotic tumor cells. These findings reveal differences in the in vivo condition between S100DC and CD68MØ in tumors, and suggest there is a relationship between tumor‐infiltrating S100DC aggregation and apoptosis in in vivo non‐small cell lung cancers.     

Local delivery of recombinant adenovirus expressing hepatitis B virus X protein and interleukin-12 results in antitumor effects via inhibition of hepatoma cell growth and intervention of tumor microenvironment

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical hypervascular tumor. Our previous studies have demonstrated that hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) was able to inhibit the growth of HCC cells via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a disulfide-linked heterodimeric cytokine with potent immunostimulatory activity and anti-angiogenic properties. In this study, to further investigate the regulatory effect of IL-12 on HBx-mediated intervention of hepatoma microenvironment especially on intervention of neovessels and immune microenvironment, we constructed the recombinant adenovirus expressing HBx and mouse IL-12 named Ad-HBx-mIL-12. HBx-mIL-12 could effectively suppress tumor growth and induce apoptosis in vivo. Moreover, treatment with Ad-HBx-mIL-12 not only induced a massive accumulation of immune cells (CD8(+) T leukocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells) in tumors in situ, also apparently reduced the number of angiogenic blood vessels within tumor tissues. These results suggest that HBx-mIL-12 can not only induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells, but also effectively shift the tumor microenvironment from pro-oncogenic to antitumor through recruitment of immune cells and inhibiting stromal cell growth, such as vascular endothelial cells.     

Development of immunogenic tumor-loaded dendritic cells through physical perturbation and apoptotic cell loading

To improve understanding of the forces that drive monocytes to transition into dendritic cells (Liyanage et al., 2002), we developed an experimental system that converts monocytes to DC by passage of leukocytes through a 400 microm silica bead column. The results demonstrate that overnight culture of column-treated monocytes causes a phenotypic conversion that is characteristically displayed by immature DC. These phenotypic changes were enhanced when the DC were loaded with apoptotic cells, leading to increased expression of the DC maturation-associated markers CD83, CD80 and the chemokine receptor CCR7. The DC demonstrated potent induction of allogeneic T cell proliferation and the capacity to activate autologous CD8(+) T cells. The CD8 T cells expressed augmented levels of perforin, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and mediated CTCL cell apoptosis. These studies demonstrate that physical contact with silica beads combined with loading of apoptotic tumor cells induces synchronized, rapid conversion of human monocytes to DC, which can efficiently stimulate CD8(+) T cells. These results may aid in the development of more efficient DC vaccines that can be loaded with the universe of antigens available in apoptotic tumor cells in a rapid, clinically practical fashion.     

Mechanism of apoptosis induced by S100A8/A9 in colon cancer cell lines: the role of ROS and the effect of metal ions

The protein complex S100A8/A9, abundant in the cytosol of neutrophils, is secreted from the cells upon cellular activation and induces apoptosis in tumor cell lines and normal fibroblasts in a zinc-reversible manner. In the present study, we present evidence that the S100A8/A9 also exerts its apoptotic effect by a zinc-independent mechanism. Treatment of the colon carcinoma cells with different concentrations of human S100A8/A9 or the metal ion chelator diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DTPA) resulted in a significant increase of cell death. Annexin V/phosphatidylinositol and Hoechst 33258 staining revealed that cell death was mainly of the apoptotic type. A significant increase in the activity of caspase-3 and -9 was observed in both cell lines after treatment. Caspase-8 activation was negligible in both cell lines. The cytotoxicity/apoptotic effect of human S100A8/A9 and DTPA was inhibited significantly (P<0.05) by Zn(+2) and Cu(+2), more effectively than by Ca(2+) and Mg(2+). The antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine inhibited the cytotoxicity/apoptotic effect of S100A8/A9 and DTPA. However, as a result of the different time-courses of both agents and that the S100A8/A9-induced apoptosis was not completely reversed, we conclude that S100A8/A9 exerts its apoptotic effect on two colon carcinoma cell lines through a dual mechanism: one via zinc exclusion from the target cells and the other through a yet-undefined mechanism, probably relaying on the cell-surface receptor(s).     

The role of airway macrophages in apoptotic cell clearance following acute and chronic lung inflammation

Acute and chronic inflammatory responses in the lung are associated with the accumulation of large quantities of immune and structural cells undergoing apoptosis, which need to be engulfed by phagocytes in a process called ‘efferocytosis’. Apoptotic cell recognition and removal from the lung is mediated predominantly by airway macrophages, though immature dendritic cells and non-professional phagocytes, such as epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells, can also display this function. Efficient clearance of apoptotic cells from the airways is essential for successful resolution of inflammation and the return to lung homeostasis. Disruption of this process leads to secondary necrosis of accumulating apoptotic cells, release of necrotic cell debris and subsequent uncontrolled inflammatory activation of the innate immune system by the released ‘damage associated molecular patterns’ (DAMPS). To control the duration of the immune response and prevent autoimmune reactions, anti-inflammatory signalling cascades are initiated in the phagocyte upon apoptotic cell uptake, mediated by a range of receptors that recognise specific phospholipids or proteins externalised on, or secreted by, the apoptotic cell. However, prolonged activation of apoptotic cell recognition receptors, such as the family of receptor tyrosine kinases Tyro3, Axl and MerTK (TAM), may delay or prevent inflammatory responses to subsequent infections. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of the mechanism controlling apoptotic cell recognition and removal from the lung in homeostasis and during inflammation, the contribution of defective efferocytosis to chronic inflammatory lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and cystic fibrosis, and implications of the signals triggered by apoptotic cells in the susceptibility to pulmonary microbial infections.     

不同增殖能力结肠癌细胞株iNOSmRNA表达的比较研究

目的:探讨iNOSmRNA在结肠癌不同增殖能力细胞株中的表达和作用,研究ATRA对于结肠癌不同增殖能力细胞株iNOSmRNA表达的影响。方法:采用MTT方法确定结肠癌细胞株CW-2和LS174T的生长增殖状况,用RT-PCR和Northernblot方法检测结肠癌中iNOSmRNA的表达量。结果:MTT生长曲线显示结肠癌细胞株LS174T的生长增殖比CW-2快;RT-PCR显示CW-2细胞株有较强的iNOSmRNA表达,而LS174T细胞株iNOSmRNA的表达较弱;Northernblot检测在CW-2中有明显的iNOSmRNA表达,但在细胞株LS174T中表达相对较弱;ATRA对结肠癌CW-2和LS174T细胞株iNOSmRNA的表达量无明显影响。结论:iNOSmRNA对结肠癌细胞株生长有双重作用,即在低增殖结肠癌CW-2呈高表达,可以通过细胞毒或诱导细胞凋亡等作用发挥抗肿瘤效应;在高增殖结肠癌LS174T呈低表达,产生NO作为信号转导的重要分子,增加血供和血管生成,促进肿瘤生长、侵袭和转移。ATRA可以抑制结肠癌细胞株的生长。     

Primary Tumor Suppression and Systemic Immune Activation of Macrophages through the Sting Pathway in Metastatic Skin Tumor

PurposeAgonists of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) play a key role in activating the STING pathway by promoting the production of cytokines. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effects and activation of the systemic immune response of treatment with DMXAA (5,6-dimethylxanthenone-4-acetic acid), a STING agonist, in EML4-ALK lung cancer and CT26 colon cancer.Materials and MethodsThe abscopal effects of DMXAA in the treatment of metastatic skin nodules were assessed. EML4-ALK lung cancer and CT26 colon cancer models were used to evaluate these effects after DMXAA treatment. To evaluate the expression of macrophages and T cells, we sacrificed the tumor-bearing mice after DMXAA treatment and obtained the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to analyze the expression of each FFPE and tumor cell.ResultsWe observed that highly infiltrating immune cells downstream of the STING pathway had increased levels of chemokines after DMXAA treatment. In addition, the levels of CD80 and CD86 in antigen-presenting cells were significantly increased after STING activation. Furthermore, innate immune activation altered the systemic T cell-mediated immune responses, induced proliferation of macrophages, inhibited tumor growth, and increased numbers of cytotoxic memory T cells. Tumor-specific lymphocytes also increased in number after treatment with DMXAA.ConclusionThe abscopal effect of DMXAA treatment on the skin strongly reduced the spread of EML4-ALK lung cancer and CT26 colon cancer through the STING pathway and induced the presentation of antigens.     

The Laboratory Opossum (Monodelphis domestica) as a Natural Mammalian Model for Human Cancer Research

This study established that human cancer cells (A375 melanoma, HT-29 colon cancer, PC-3p prostate cancer) that were xenografted into suckling opossums could proliferate and globally metastasize as early as 11 days after injection. Light and electron microscopic examinations (HT-29 colon cancer) determined that the cellular features exhibited by the xenogeneic human tumors grown in laboratory opossums were consistent with those observed in tumors removed from humans. The tumor induction rate, patterns of tumor growth and regression, and types of host immune responses against the xenografted tumors were influenced by injection dosages, injection sites and injection ages of suckling opossums. The results highlight the value of the opossum model as a natural in vivo system for investigating human cancer growth, metastasis and apoptosis at the cellular and molecular levels; enhancing identification of tumor associated antigens or T cell epitopes through use of humoral and cellular expression cloning techniques; elucidating mechanisms utilized by tumor cells to evade host immunosurveillance; and devising diagnostic and therapeutic methods for cancer treatment.     

Combined treatment of human colorectal tumor cell lines with chemotherapeutic agents and ionizing irradiation can in vitro induce tumor cell death forms with immunogenic potential

Chemotherapeutic agents (CT) and ionizing radiation (X-ray) induce DNA damage and primarily aim to stop the proliferation of tumor cells. However, multimodal anti-cancer therapies should finally result in tumor cell death and, best, in the induction of systemic anti-tumor immunity. Since distinct therapy-induced tumor cell death forms may create an immune activating tumor microenvironment, this study examined whether sole treatment with CT that are used in the therapy for colorectal cancer or in combination with X-ray result in colorectal tumor cell death with immunogenic potential. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), Oxaliplatin (Oxp), or Irinotecan (Irino) in combination with X-ray were all potent inhibitors of colorectal tumor cell colony formation. This study then examined the forms of cell death with AnnexinA5-FITC/Propidium Iodide staining. Necrosis was the prominent form of cell death induced by CT and/or X-ray. While only a combination of Irino with X-ray leads to death induction already 1 day after treatment, also the combinations of Oxp or 5-FU with X-ray and X-ray alone resulted in high necrosis rates at later time points after treatment. Inhibition of apoptosis increased the amount of necrotic tumor cells, suggesting that a programmed form of necrosis can be induced by CT + X-ray. 5-FU and Oxp alone or in combination with X-ray and Irino plus X-ray were most effective in increasing the expression of RIP, IRF-5, and p53, proteins involved in necrotic and apoptotic cell death pathways. All treatments further resulted in the release of the immune activating danger signals high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). The supernatants of the treated tumor cells induced maturation of dendritic cells. It is, therefore, concluded that combination of CT with X-ray is capable of inducing in vitro cell death forms of colorectal tumors with immunogenic potential.     

依托度酸诱导SMMC7721细胞凋亡的分子机理研究

目的：探讨选择性环氧合酶抑制剂依托度酸（etodolac）诱导肝癌SMMC7721细胞凋亡的分子机理。 方法： 采用流式细胞术、DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳法测定细胞凋亡情况；Western blotting法检测不同浓度etodolac处理后凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2、Bax表达的变化；流式细胞术检测半胱氨酸酶-3 (caspase-3)活性的变化；TransAMTM NF-κB p65/p50核转录因子活性检测试剂盒检测核因子-κB (NF-κB)活性变化。 结果： 流式细胞术显示etodolac（0.25、0.50、1.0、2.0 mmol/L）作用SMMC7721细胞48 h后，与对照组（0 mmol/L）相比，出现明显凋亡峰（P<0.01 vs control）；高浓度etodolac处理后DNA琼脂糖凝胶电泳出现明显的DNA Ladder, 凋亡相关蛋白Bcl-2表达下降，Bax表达增加；与对照组相比，低浓度组（0.25 mmol/L）caspase-3活性未明显活化（P>0.05），NF-κB活性也未受明显抑制（P>0.05），随着etodolac浓度的增大（0.50、1.0、2.0 mmol/L），caspase-3活性明显活化（P<0.05 vs control）； NF-κB活性明显受到抑制（P<0.05 vs control）。经Pearson 相关分析，caspase-3活性和NF-κB活性呈显著负相关（r=0.919, P<0.01）。 结论： 选择性COX-2抑制剂etodolac可能通过抑制NF-κB结合活性，调节Bcl-2、Bax蛋白表达，活化caspase-3，从而诱导肝癌SMMC7721细胞凋亡。     

TIM genes: a family of cell surface phosphatidylserine receptors that regulate innate and adaptive immunity

Summary: The TIM (T cell/transmembrane, immunoglobulin, and mucin) gene family plays a critical role in regulating immune responses, including allergy, asthma, transplant tolerance, autoimmunity, and the response to viral infections. The unique structure of TIM immunoglobulin variable region domains allows highly specific recognition of phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells. TIM-1, TIM-3, and TIM-4 all recognize PtdSer but differ in expression, suggesting that they have distinct functions in regulating immune responses. TIM-1, an important susceptibility gene for asthma and allergy, is preferentially expressed on T-helper 2 (Th2) cells and functions as a potent costimulatory molecule for T-cell activation. TIM-3 is preferentially expressed on Th1 and Tc1 cells, and generates an inhibitory signal resulting in apoptosis of Th1 and Tc1 cells. TIM-3 is also expressed on some dendritic cells and can mediate phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and cross-presentation of antigen. In contrast, TIM-4 is exclusively expressed on antigen-presenting cells, where it mediates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and plays an important role in maintaining tolerance. TIM molecules thus provide a functional repertoire for recognition of apoptotic cells, which determines whether apoptotic cell recognition leads to immune activation or tolerance, depending on the TIM molecule engaged and the cell type on which it is expressed.     

The therapeutic T‐cell response induced by tumor delivery of TNF and melphalan is dependent on early triggering of natural killer and dendritic cells

The fusion protein L19mTNF (mouse TNF and human antibody fragment L19 directed to fibronectin extra domain B) selectively targets the tumor vasculature, and in combination with melphalan induces a long‐lasting T‐cell therapeutic response and immune memory in murine models. Increasing evidence suggests that natural killer (NK) cells act to promote effective T‐cell‐based antitumor responses. We have analyzed the role of NK cells and dendritic cells (DCs) on two different murine tumor models: WEHI‐164 fibrosarcoma and C51 colon carcinoma, in which the combined treatment induces high and low rejection rates, respectively. In vivo NK‐cell depletion strongly reduced the rejection of WEHI‐164 fibrosarcoma and correlated with a decrease in mature DCs, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor‐draining LNs and mature DCs and CD4⁺ T cells in the tumor 40 h after initiation of the therapy. NK‐cell depletion also resulted in the impairment of the stimulatory capability of DCs derived from tumor‐draining LNs of WEHI‐164‐treated mice. Moreover, a significant reduction of M2‐type infiltrating macrophages was detected in both tumors undergoing therapy. These results suggest that the efficacy of L19mTNF/melphalan therapy is strongly related to the early activation of NK cells and DCs, which are necessary for an effective T‐cell response.