title: Immunotherapy of DC-CIK cells enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy for solid cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials in Chinese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Professional antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, components of anti-cancer therapy, have shown clinical benefits and potential to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance. To evaluate whether DC-CIK cell-based therapy improves the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy, we reviewed the literature on DC-CIK cells and meta-analyzed randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched several databases and selected studies using predefined criteria. RCTs that applied chemotherapy with and without DC-CIK cells separately in two groups were included. Odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) were reported to measure the pooled effect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve reported RCTs (826 patients), which were all performed on Chinese patients, were included. Combination therapy exhibited better data than chemotherapy: 1-year overall survival (OS) (OR=0.22, P<0.01), 2-year OS (OR=0.28, P<0.01), 3-year OS (OR=0.41, P<0.01), 1-year disease-free survival (DFS) (OR=0.16, P<0.05), 3-year DFS (OR=0.32, P<0.01), objective response rate (ORR) (OR=0.54, P<0.01), and disease control rate (DCR) (OR=0.46, P<0.01). Moreover, the levels of CD3(+) T-lymphocytes (MD=-11.65, P<0.05) and CD4(+) T-lymphocytes (MD=-8.18, P<0.01) of the combination group were higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunotherapy of DC-CIK cells may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy on solid cancer and induces no specific side effect. Further RCTs with no publishing bias should be designed to confirm the immunotherapeutic effects of DC-CIK cells.
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: You-gen
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Chuan-wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Gang-gang
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Guo-liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Shao-wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Xun-bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Minimally Invasive Urology Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250014, China.
authors.forename: Qing-hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Cytokine-induced killer cells; Dendritic cells; Immunotherapy; Meta-analysis; Solid carcinoma