title: Immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer cells as an adjuvant treatment for advanced gastric carcinoma: a retrospective study of 165 patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital , Tianjin, P.R. China .
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yongli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jinpu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Baozhu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xiubao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / Q000737:chemistry; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: cytokine-induced killer cell; gastric cancers; immunotherapy; overall survival; progression-free survival