Baozhu Ren

Immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer cells as an adjuvant treatment for advanced gastric carcinoma: A retrospective study of 165 patients

BACKGROUND Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have demonstrated antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CIK cell treatment as an adjuvant immunotherapy on the prognosis of gastric carcinoma in patients after surgery. METHODS The patients with stage II-III gastric carcinoma after gastrectomy, including 53 patients receiving autologous CIK cell treatment combined with chemotherapy (CIK group) and 112 patients in the corresponding period receiving chemotherapy alone (control group), were retrospectively studied. The patients in the CIK group were matched to those in the control group regarding the sex and age of patients, tumor site, histological type, pathological grade, tumor size, clinical stage, and chemotherapy plan. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. RESULTS The 5-year OS rate in the CIK group was significantly improved compared to that in the control group (56.6% vs. 26.8%, p=0.014). The 5-year PFS rate in the CIK group was also significantly improved compared to that in the control group (49.1% vs. 24.1%, p=0.026). The median PFS (36.0 months) and OS (96.0 months) in the CIK group were significantly prolonged than those in the control group (23.0 months for median PFS and 32.0 months for median OS, p=0.028 and p=0.003). No serious side effect was observed in the CIK group. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that immunotherapy with CIK cells may serve as an adjuvant treatment to prolong the survival of patients with stage II-III gastric carcinoma.

Fetal-maternal microchimerism enhances the survival effect of interleukin-2-activated haploidentical peripheral blood stem cell treatment in patients with advanced solid cancer

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)-ligand incompatibility in the graft-versus-host direction is associated with improved outcome in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Fetal-maternal microchimerism has been suggested to mediate acquired fetal-maternal tolerance. The goal of this study was to determine the clinical efficacy of KIR-ligand incompatibility and fetal-maternal microchimerism for interleukin-2-activated haploidentical peripheral blood stem cells (haplo-PBSCs) treatment for patients with advanced solid cancer. Forty-two (42) patients with advanced stage of solid cancer and refractory to standard chemotherapy were treated with haplo-PBSCs donated by their parents or children. Human leukocyte antigen typing, fetal-maternal microchimerism status, and engraftment were detected. Clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) level were evaluated. Patients receiving haplo-PBSCs treatment with KIR-ligand incompatibility in the graft-versus-host direction had higher probability of OS (26.8 ± 3.1 months) and PFS (13.4 ± 1.3 months) when compared with those with KIR ligand compatibility (OS: 17.4 ± 3.0 months, p < 0.05 and PSF: 8.0 ± 0.9 months, p < 0.05). Further, OS (31.2 ± 4.3 months), PFS (14.7 ± 2.2 months), and KPS increase (27 points) in the microchimerism-positive group was improved compared with that in the microchimerism-negative group (OS: 16.9 ± 3.8 months, p < 0.01, PFS: 5.6 ± 1.4 months, p < 0.01, and KPS increase: 15 points, p < 0.01). Therefore, KIR-ligand incompatibility and fetal-maternal microchimerism are associated with better outcome for haplo-PBSCs treatment.

Efficiency of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells in Combination with Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Purpose The treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains challenging, due to the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptors. This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy, following regular chemotherapy, for patients with TNBC. Methods A total of 340 patients with postmastectomy TNBC, from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2014, were included in this retrospective study. Seventy-seven patients received CIK cell immunotherapy, following regular chemotherapy (arm 1), and 263 patients received regular chemotherapy alone (arm 2). The primary aim was overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), and the treatment responses and adverse events were also evaluated. Results The 5-year DFS and OS rates in arm 1 were 77.9% and 94.3%, compared with 69.8% and 85.6% in arm 2, respectively (p=0.159 and p=0.035, respectively). This clearly shows that there was no statistical difference in the 5-year DFS between the two groups. Multivariate analyses of arm 1 indicated that a Karnofsky performance score (KPS) ≥90 and stage I/IIA disease were significantly associated with a prolonged DFS period (hazard ratio [HR], 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09–0.74; p=0.012; and HR 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06–0.82; p=0.024, respectively), but a KPS ≥90 and stage I/IIA disease were not independent prognostic factors for OS. Toxicity was mild in patients who received the CIK therapy. Conclusion The data suggested that CIK cell immunotherapy improved the efficiency of regular chemotherapy in patients with TNBC, and the side effects of CIK cell immunotherapy were mild.