Autologous cytokine-induced killer cell transfusion increases overall survival in advanced pancreatic cancer

Abstract

BackgroundAdvanced pancreatic cancer (PC) has very poor prognosis with present treatments, thus necessitating continued efforts to find improved therapeutic approaches. Both preclinical and preliminary clinical data indicate that cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are an effective tool against various types of solid tumors. Here, we conducted a study to determine whether CIK cell-based therapy (CBT) can improve the outcomes of advanced PC.MethodsEighty-two patients with advanced PC, whose predicted survival time was longer than 3 months, were analyzed retrospectively. Of all the patients, 57 individuals were receiving chemotherapy, while the remaining 25 individuals were treated with CBT.ResultsThe overall survival analysis was based on 48 deaths in the 57 patients in the chemotherapy group (84.2 %) and 18 deaths in the 25 patients in the CBT group (72.0 %). In the CBT group, the median overall survival time was 13.5 months, as compared to 6.6 months in the chemotherapy group (hazard ratio for death, 0.39; 95 % confidence interval, 0.23 to 0.65; p < 0.001). The survival rate was 88.9 % in the CBT group versus 54.2 % in the chemotherapy group at 6 months, 61.1 % versus 12.5 % at 12 months, and 38.9 % versus 4.2 % at 18 months. The disease control rate was 68.0 % in the CBT group and 29.8 % in the chemotherapy group (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThese results from this retrospective analysis appeared to imply that CBT might prolong survival in these high-risk PC patients. Prospective study is needed to corroborate this observation.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13045-016-0237-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Vaccination with poly(IC:LC) and peptide-pulsed autologous dendritic cells in patients with pancreatic cancer

“…A retrospective review of the dose, toxicity, and efficacy of second line gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (G + Nab-P) after FOLFIRINOX in patients with metastatic and locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer demonstrated its modest activity and clinical benefit in advanced pancreatic cancer [36]. Results from another retrospective analysis study to determine whether cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell-based therapy (CBT) can improve the outcomes of advanced PC appeared to imply that CBT might prolong survival in these high-risk PC patients [37]. Thus, recent advances that utilize targeting of immune checkpoint pathways, in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies are being also considered [38, 39].…”

The role of stromal cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer

“…1) [7–9]. It is encountered as “stickiness” during surgery presenting technical challenges for achieving negative resection margins, which is currently the only chance of cure [10].…”

Clinical applications of dendritic cells&ndash;cytokine-induced killer cells mediated immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer: an up-to-date meta-analysis

“…Finally, 14 papers of clinical trials that included a total of 1,088 patients were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis ( Figure 1 ). 16 , 17 , 24 – 35…”