title: Efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer cells for gastric cancer after d2 gastrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It remains a challenge to prevent the local recurrence or distant metastasis of gastric carcinoma after D2 gastrectomy. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have shown promising activity against solid tumors in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy combined with autologous CIK therapy after D2 gastrectomy compared with adjuvant chemotherapy alone after D2 gastrectomy in patients with stage II-III gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2009 to December 2011, 226 patients with stage II-III gastric cancer who had had curative D2 gastrectomy were enrolled. Eighty-nine patients (CIK group) received adjuvant chemotherapy combining with autologous CIK therapy and 137 patients (control group) received adjuvant chemotherapy alone. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the CIK group had longer DFS and OS than patients in the control group (DFS 41.0 months vs. 32.0 months, OS 45.0 months vs. 44.0 months, by log-rank test P = 0.006 and P = 0.028, respectively). In subgroup analysis, no significant differences in DFS and OS were observed between the two groups for the patients with stages II disease. Patients with stage III disease in the CIK group had longer median DFS and OS than patients in the control group (P = 0.031 and P = 0.038, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the stage and the interaction of stage and CIK therapy were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy combined with autologous CIK therapy can improve prognosis for gastric carcinoma patients after D2 gastrectomy, especially for the patients with stage III disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China ; Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital ,Fujian Medical University Teaching Hospital Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zeng-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China ; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China ; Laboratory of Immuno-Oncology, Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital, Fujian Medical University Teaching Hospital Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: The School of Basic Medical Sciences Fujian Medical University Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China ; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yun-Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The Union Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China ; Fujian Key Laboratory of Translational Cancer Medicine Fuzhou, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: D2 gastrectomy; Gastric cancer; adjuvant chemotherapy; cytokine-induced killer cells; immunotherapy