Immunotherapy with cytokine-induced killer cells as an adjuvant treatment for advanced gastric carcinoma: A retrospective study of 165 patients

Abstract Background: Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have demonstrated antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CIK cell treatment as an adjuvant immunotherapy on the prognosis of gastric carcinoma in patients after surgery. Methods: The patients with stage II–III gastric carcinoma after gastrectomy, including 53 patients receiving autologous CIK cell treatment combined with chemotherapy (CIK group) and 112 patients in the corresponding period receiving chemotherapy alone (control group), were retrospectively studied. The patients in the CIK group were matched to those in the control group regarding the sex and age of patients, tumor site, histological type, pathological grade, tumor size, clinical stage, and chemotherapy plan. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results: The 5-year OS rate in the CIK group was significantly improved compared to that in the control group (56.6% vs. 26.8%, p=0.014). The 5-year ...