Adjuvant dendritic cells vaccine combined with cytokine-induced-killer cell therapy after renal cell carcinoma surgery.

juvant dendritic cells’ (DCs) vaccine combined with cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) therapy after renal cell carcinoma (RCC) surgery (RCCS). Methods: DCs vaccine and CIK that loaded the autologous tumor cell lysate were prepared in vitro. Four hundred and ten RCC patients were recruited, and the study group was given DCs-CIK immunotherapy, while the control group was given IFN-α therapy. Results: Disease progression (recurrence, metastasis or death) showed significant differences between the two groups in clinical stage I and II patients, as well as in highly and moderately differentiated disease (p 0.05). The 3and 5-year overall survival rates of the DCs-CIK group (96% and 96%, respectively) exhibited significant difference compared to the IFN-α group (83% and 74%, respectively (p<0.01). Progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups was significantly different (p<0.01). Tumor stage and DCs-CIK treatment were independent factors concerning prognosis of RCC (p<0.05). There was no severe toxicity observed in the DCs-CIK treatment group. Conclusions: Adjuvant post-RCCS DCs-CIK treatment prolonged PFS and reduced mortality, showing better overall activity compared to interferon treatment.