Efficacy of adjuvant immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer cells in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the long-term efficacy of adjuvant immunotherapy with autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells for locally advanced gastric cancer patients.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-one patients with stage III/IV gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy were enrolled, assigned to two groups (immunotherapy group versus no immunotherapy group/or control group), and followed.


RESULTS
The 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates for immunotherapy versus control group were 32.4 versus 23.4 % (P = 0.071) and 28.3 versus 10.4 % (P = 0.044), respectively. For patients with intestinal-type tumors, the 5-year OS and DFS rates were significantly higher for immunotherapy (OS, 46.8 vs. 31.4 % and P = 0.045; DFS, 42.4 vs. 15.7 % and P = 0.023). In the immunotherapy group, the mean CD3(+) level, CD4(+) level, and CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio increased from 50.8, 26.5, and 0.9 %, respectively, at baseline to 62.6, 35.0, and 1.4 %, respectively, 1 week after the first CIK-cell treatment, returned to baseline after 2 months, and maintained a higher level (60.7 ± 8.2 %, 34.2 ± 7.1 %, and 1.3 ± 0.3 %, respectively) 2 months after 3 cycles of immunotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Adjuvant immunotherapy with CIK cells prolongs DFS in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer and significantly improves OS in patients with intestinal-type tumors. Intestinal-type tumors could be selected as an important indication for CIK-cell therapy. This treatment may help improve T-lymphocyte subset distribution and improve the host's immune functions, but multiple cycles are necessary for long-term therapeutic efficacy.
Department of Tumor Biological Treatment, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, 185 Juqian Street, Changzhou, 213003, Jiangsu Province, China.
Liangrong
L
Shi
Qi
Q
Zhou
Jun
J
Wu
Mei
M
Ji
Guojun
G
Li
Jingting
J
Jiang
Changping
C
Wu
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD