Autologous dendritic cells combined with cytokine-induced killer cells in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of dendritic cell (DC) combined with cytokine induced killer cell (CIK) in treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 39 patients with advanced NSCLC, who were admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Academy of Military Medical Sciences, and cultured in vitro to produce DCs and CIK cells which, after phenotypic characterization by flow cytometry, were then returned to the patients. DCs were given subcutaneously on day 7, 9, 11 and 13 and CIK cells were given intravenously on day 11 and 13. The clinical efficacy and safety were analyzed before and after DCs-CIK cells treatment. Results Following up displayed that, in 39 patients with advanced NSCLC and eligible for evaluation, the objective response rate (ORR) was 30.8% including 2 cases of completed response (CR) and 10 cases of partial response (PR), the disease control rate (DCR) was 69.2%. No significant difference existed pre- and post-treatment on the proportion of T cell subsets including CD3+CD4+CD8–, CD3+CD4–CD8+, CD3+CD19–, CD3–CD19+, CD3–CD16+CD56+, CD3+CD16+D56+, CD3+HLA-DR–, CD3+HLA-DR+ and CD3+CD28+CD8+ (P>0.05), while obvious changes were found in Th1, Th2 and CD3+CD4+CD25+ T cells (Treg cells) (P<0.05). No serious adverse events were observed. Conclusion Combined DCs-CIK cells immunotherapy provides a safe and effective treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC, improves the quality of life and relieves the probability of metastasis and recurrence. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2017.09.09