A cell-based cancer vaccine comprising autologous dendritic cells pulsed with four alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) peptides, with potential immunostimulatory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, AFP peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cell vaccine may stimulate anti-tumoral cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) and antibody responses against AFP-expressing cancer cells, resulting in tumor cell lysis. AFP is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells.