title: Adverse reactions and their management in the treatment of malignant tumors using cytokine-induced killer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the causes and the corresponding management of adverse reactions during the treatment of malignant tumors using cytokine-induced killer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2012 to December 2012, 441 patients received a total of 1,393 autologous cytokine-induced killer cell transfusion cycles in our department. The adverse reactions after the procedures were observed (assessed using the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity version 2.0), and targeted care and health education were delivered by nurses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All treatment sessions were successfully completed, and the following adverse reactions were found: grade 1/3 fever in 1.36% (19/1,393) patients; grade 2/3 fever in 0.86% (12/1,393) patients; grade 2/3 chills in 0.65% (9/1,393) patients; and grade 1/3 dizziness in 0.29% (4/1,393) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After timely intervention of the adverse reactions, all patients were treated successfully. The best timing of the CIK cell therapy for cancer patients is when the tumor burden, or the number of tumor cells, reaches the minimal level after the end of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Biotherapy Research Center, Sun Yat-sun Univerisity Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Chao-Xian
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China. zhanghm@sysucc.org.cn.
authors.forename: Hua-Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Biotherapy Research Center, Sun Yat-sun Univerisity Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Biotherapy Research Center, Sun Yat-sun Univerisity Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Biotherapy Research Center, Sun Yat-sun Univerisity Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Tao-Mei
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Biotherapy Research Center, Sun Yat-sun Univerisity Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Lu-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Xie
keywords: Management; adverse reaction; somatic cell immunotherapy