Clinical Studies Applying Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells for the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

There is growing interest in cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells on the integrated therapy of patients with RCC, especially those in the late stage or refractory to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this review, a total of 15 clinical studies including 681 patients enrolled in CIK cell immunotherapy were outlined. Three-hundred-and-eighty-two patients with RCC were treated with CIK cells alone or in combination with DC vaccination, targeted agents sunitinib or sorafenib, and the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab. Significantly improved 3-year overall survival rate was reported in four trials, whereas remarkably longer median progression-free survival was observed in three studies. Adverse reactions were mild and usually controllable fever and fatigue. Besides, preclinical research progresses were reviewed to increase our understanding about the underlying mechanisms of CIK cell cytotoxicity and identify potential targets to enhance their anti-tumor activity. These studies suggest that CIK cell-based immunotherapy has potential clinical benefits with a good safety profile and could become a promising approach in the combined therapies of RCC patients. However, further large-scale studies are required to evaluate the clinical efficacy of CIK cells and more efforts should be performed to identify the optimal CIK cell-based therapeutic regimen for RCC patients.

Update in TIGIT Immune-Checkpoint Role in Cancer

“…TIGIT–CD155 signaling was also observed in cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells expressing CD3 and CD56 molecules ( 101 , 102 ). As observed indirectly by Zhang et al., who analyzed the literature concerning the clinical trial ongoing on renal cell carcinoma patients enrolled in integrated CIK cell immunotherapy, the TIGIT blocked enhanced CIK proliferation and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IFN-γ, IL-6, and TNF-α ( 102 ).…”

Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Between Laparoscopic and Open Partial Nephrectomy for Different Complexity Renal Cell Carcinoma Based on the R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Score

“… 1 The EUA Guidelines suggested that surgery is the only curative treatment for localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). 2 , 3 The partial nephrectomy (PN) and radical nephrectomy (RN) for patients with ccRCC larger than 7 cm exhibited equivalent oncologic outcomes. 4 Basing on quality-of-life and oncological outcomes, localized cT1 carcinomas are best treated through nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) rather than RN.…”

A Low Dose of Pure Cannabidiol Is Sufficient to Stimulate the Cytotoxic Function of CIK Cells without Exerting the Downstream Mediators in Pancreatic Cancer Cells

“…Nevertheless, the relative contribution of several immunotherapeutic approaches has helped to partially tackle this adverse effect of disease in the clinics. Among these approaches, cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy has played a pivotal role and raised the bar regarding treatment response due to its safe and efficient methodology [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. The uniqueness of CIK cells is their encouraging synergetic effect with cancer associated inhibitors/compounds in preclinical models since cannabinoids have been the subject of intensive cancer research, in particular cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) due to its expression in cells of the immune system where CIK cells also play an important role.…”