Establishment of a detection platform for glioblastoma-dendritic cell (DC) vaccine preparation and to determine the efficacy of the vaccine in a clinical trial. Autologous glioblastoma-DC vaccine was prepared from a glioblast specimen procured from surgical resection. The specimen was used to enrich the vaccine with peripherally blood-derived DCs after heat-shock induced, glioblastoma apoptosis. The control group received conventional treatment of surgery and radio-chemotherapy post-operation. The therapeutic group received a combination of glioblastoma-DC vaccine and conventional therapy. A comparison of the functional immune parameters, including tumor control, rate live time, Karnofsky scores, and complications occurring in each group were observed and recorded. The proportions of peripheral CD3(+), CD3(+)CD4(+), CD4(+)/CD8(+), and NK cells were significantly higher after DC vaccination than the control group (P < 0.05). Serum levels of IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ were significantly higher after DC vaccination than in the control group (P < 0.05). Nine months after vaccination, tumor control rate is significantly improved in the DC group compared with the control group (P < 0.05); survival rate was significantly higher in DC group than in control group (P < 0.05) and the time to relapse was significantly longer in DC group than that in control group (P < 0.05). Karnofsky scores were better in DC vaccination group 6 and 9 months post-treatment compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The combination of glioma DC vaccine and radiotherapy/chemotherapy post-operatively enhances the immune function of patients, increases the tumor control rate, prolongs the survival time and relapse duration, improves the quality of life, and therefore provides a more effective intervention of treating glioblastoma.

Background During immunotherapy treatment and survival, identifying symptoms requires a standardized and validated assessment tool. The aim of this study was to translate, validate and use the Chinese version of the Immunotherapy of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory for Early-Phase Trials module (MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT) to assess the symptom burden of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy in China. Methods The MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT was translated into Chinese using Brislin’s translation model and the back-translation method. In total, 312 Chinese-speaking colorectal cancer patients receiving immunotherapy were enrolled in the trial from August 2021 to July 2022 after receiving definitive diagnoses in our cancer center. The reliability and validity of the translated version was evaluated. Results Cronbach’s α values were 0.964 and 0.935 for the symptom severity and interference scales, respectively. Significant correlations were found between the MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT-C and FACT-G scores (-0.617–0.732, P < 0.001). Known-group validity was supported by significant differences in the scores of the four scales grouped by ECOG PS (all P < 0.01). The overall mean subscale scores for the core and interference subscales were 1.92 ± 1.75 and 1.46 ± 1.87, respectively. Fatigue, numbness/tingling, and disturbed sleep had the highest scores for the most serious symptoms. Conclusion The MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT-C showed adequate reliability and validity for measuring symptoms among Chinese-speaking colorectal cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. The tool could be used in clinical practice and clinical trials to gather patients’ health and quality of life data and manage their symptoms in a timely manner in the future.

Objectives: To translate, validate and use the Chinese version of the Immunotherapy of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory for Early-Phase Trials module (MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT) to assess the symptom burden of cancer patients receiving immunotherapy in China. Methods: The MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT was translated into Chinese using Brislin’s translation model and the back-translation method. In total, 312 Chinese-speaking colorectal cancer patients receiving immunotherapy were enrolled in the trial from August 2021 to July 2022 after receiving definitive diagnoses in our cancer center. The reliability and validity of the translated version was evaluated. Results: Cronbach’s α values were 0.964 and 0.935 for the symptom severity and interference scales, respectively. Significant correlations were found between the MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT-C and FACT-G scores (-0.638–0.757, P < 0.001). Known-group validity was supported by significant differences in the scores of the four scales grouped by ECOG PS (all P < 0.01). The overall mean subscale scores for the core and interference subscales were 1.92 ± 1.75 and 1.46 ± 1.87, respectively. Fatigue, numbness/tingling, and disturbed sleep had the highest scores for the most serious symptoms. Conclusion: The MDASI-Immunotherapy EPT-C showed adequate reliability and validity for measuring symptoms among Chinese-speaking colorectal cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. The tool could be used in clinical practice and clinical trials to instantly gather patients’ health and quality of life data and manage their symptoms in a timely manner.