Improved efficacy of therapeutic vaccination with dendritic cells pulsed with tumor cell lysate against hepatocellular carcinoma by introduction of 2 tandem repeats of microbial HSP70 peptide epitope 407-426 and OK-432

► A tumor cell lysate-pulsed DC vaccination against HCC (HMO-D) was developed. ► The immunotherapeutic effects of HM-D were significantly enhanced by OK-432 (HMO-D). ► HMO-D could significantly increase the Th1-type cytokines but not Th2-cytokines. ► HMO-D could significantly induce stronger antigen-specific T cell responses against HCC than H-D and HM-D. ► We first found that 2mHSP70407-426 (M2) could substitute mHSP70 or OK-432 in stimulating DC maturation.