title: Dendritic cells combining with cytokine-induced killer cells synergize chemotherapy in patients with late-stage non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lung cancer is the leading cause for cancer-related mortality and morbidity, and the survival of late-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains poor. We hereby evaluate conventional chemotherapy followed by immunotherapy using dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells in the treatment for late stage of NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight untreated patients suffered from IIIB to IV NSCLC were enrolled in the study between August 2004 and October 2005, and all received four courses of vinorelbine-platinum (NP) chemotherapy. Fourteen of them received conventional NP chemotherapy followed by vaccinated with CEA (605-613) peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells and CIK cells. Vaccination was repeated at 30-day intervals for 4 cycles. The adverse effects, time to progression (TTP), and overall survival (OS) in each group were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adverse effect as a result of chemoimmunotherapy was mild and tolerable. Rash, acne, and pruritus were more frequent in the chemoimmunotherapy group than in the chemotherapy group (64.2% vs. 7.1%, P = 0.004). Non-infectious fever was more frequent in the chemoimmunotherapy group than in the chemotherapy group (71.4% vs. 21.4% P = 0.02). Less grade 3/4 fatigue was observed in patients receiving chemoimmunotherapy: 7.1% versus 57.1% in chemotherapy group, P = 0.01. Compared with patients in chemotherapy group, time to progression in chemoimmunotherapy significantly prolonged, with the median improved from 5.2 months (95% CI: 3.3-6.0) to 6.9 months (95% CI: 5.0-8.8) (P = 0.03). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates were 64.3, 49, and 21.0%, respectively in chemoimmunotherapy group. Overall survival rate showed no statistically difference between two groups (P = 0.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemoimmunotherapy could alleviate adverse effects of conventional chemotherapy and prolong survival for patients with late-stage NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Disease, Shanghai Chest Hospital, 241#, West Huaihai Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Runbo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Baohui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077235:Vinorelbine
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine