[Dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer cell immunotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: safety and efficacy].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical efficacy of dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer cell (DC-CIK) immunotherapy combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
Thirty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with TACE combined with DC-CIK cell therapy and 38 patients treated with TACE alone (control group) were compared for progression-free survival time, overall survival time, quality of life, and treatment-related adverse events.


RESULTS
The median progression-free survival was 16 months in the combined treatment group as compared with 7 months in the control group (P=0.033). The median overall survival time was 24 months in the combined treatment group and 13 months in the control group, with 1-year overall survival rates of 80% and 75.2%, respectively, showing no significant differences between the two groups (P=0.089). Multivariate analysis indicated that Barcelona-Clinic-Liver-Cancer (BCLC) staging and AFP level before treatment were two independent risk factors of progression-free survival time, and BCLC stage served also as an independent risk factor of the overall survival time. Ten patients in the combined treatment group (33.3%) showed improved quality of life, as compared with 4 patients (10.5%) in the control group (P=0.034). Three patients receiving DC-CIK treatment experienced fever and 1 had allergic reaction, and the symptoms remitted after expectant treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with TACE alone, DC-CIK immunotherapy combined with TACE can improve the patients' progression-free survival time but not the overall survival time. The combined therapy also improves the quality of life of the patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and shows good treatment safety.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. E-mail: gwwfeng072@gmail.com.
Weiwei
W
Guo
Li
L
Liu
Dehua
D
Wu
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells; D003713:Dendritic Cells; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate