[Short-term curative efficacy of cytokine-induced killer cells combined micro-invasive treatments on hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Recently, micro-invasive treatments showed well application prospective in treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), while tumor immunotherapy is a hot topic in tumor treatment. This study was to investigate the efficacy of cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) combined micro-invasive treatments (transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation) on the recurrence of HCC.


METHODS
A total of 85 HCC patients without active lesions and metastasis, which were displayed by imaging examination after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation therapy, were divided randomly into 2 groups: 45 in study group, and 40 in control group. The patients in study group were transfused with CIK cells through hepatic artery after micro-invasive treatments, while the patients in control group were not. The levels of T lymphocyte subsets and native killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood of HCC patients before and after CIK cell transfusion were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Tumor condition was observed by CT scanning every 2-3 months.


RESULTS
The percentages of CD3+, CD4+, and CD56+ effect cells and the proportion of CD4+/CD8+ were increased from (68.6+/-11.0)%, (31.0+/-9.0)%, (15.6+/-7.8)%, and 1.1+/-0.5 to (70.7+/-10.1)% (P<0.05), (33.5+/-8.0)% (P<0.05), (18.4+/-9.4)% (P<0.05), and 1.3+/-0.6 (P<0.05) after CIK cell transfusion; while the percentages of CD8+ and CD3+ CD56+ cells were decreased from (31.1+/-7.8)% and (6.4+/-3.5)% to (28.6+/-8.3)% (P<0.05) and (5.2+/-3.3)% (P<0.05). The 1- and 1.5-year recurrence rates were 8.89% and 15.56% in study group, and 30.00% and 40.00% in control group (Chi(2) = 4.87 and 6.41, P <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CIK cell transfusion after micro-invasive treatments may improve the immunologic function in HCC patients, and play an important role in reducing the recurrence rate of HCC.
Zhou
Qi-Ming
QM
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
Wu
Pei-Hong
PH
Zhao
Ming
M
Wang
Qi-Jing
QJ
Huang
Li-Xi
LX
Li
Yong-Qiang
YQ
Chen
Shi-Ping
SP
Xia
Jian-Chuan
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008868:Microtubule Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
C076025:CIK1 protein, S cerevisiae; D008868:Microtubule Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma