title: Efficacy of cytokine-induced killer cell infusion as an adjuvant immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell-based immunotherapy as an adjuvant therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Published studies were identified by searching Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases with the keywords: cytokine-induced killer cell, hepatocellular carcinoma, and immunotherapy. The outcomes of interest were overall survival, progression-free survival, and disease-free survival. Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs), six prospective studies, and three retrospective studies were included. The overall analysis revealed that patients in the CIK cell-treatment group had a higher survival rate (pooled hazard ratio (HR) =0.594, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.501-0.703,P<0.001). Patients treated with CIK cells in non-RCTs had a higher progression-free survival rate (pooled HR =0.613, 95% CI =0.510-0.738,P<0.001). However, CIK cell-treated patients in RCTs had progression-free survival rates similar to those of the control group (pooled HR =0.700, 95% CI =0.452-1.084,P=0.110). The comparison between pooled results of RCTs and non-RCTs regarding the progression-free survival rate did not reach statistical significance. Patients in the CIK cell-treatment group had lower rates of relapse in RCTs (pooled HR =0.635, 95% CI =0.514-0.784,P<0.001). Similar results were found when non-RCT and RCTs were pooled (pooled HR =0.623, 95% CI =0.516-0.752,P<0.001). Adjuvant CIK cell-based immunotherapy is a promising therapeutic approach that can improve overall survival and reduce recurrence in patients with HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Affiliated to Capital Medical University.
authors.forename: Ruili
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA Rocket Force General Hospital.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Laboratory Medicine.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Ultrasound.
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Nanlou Clinic, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Affiliated to Capital Medical University.
authors.forename: Xueyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Information Management, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peifeng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Hematology, Chinese PLA General Hospital.
authors.forename: Xuechun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D055612:Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic
keywords: cytokine-induced killer cells; hepatocellular carcinoma; immunotherapy; relapse; survival