Side effects during treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma by chemotherapy combined with CIK-cell transfusion in elderly people

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To study the side e ects and therapeutic results of autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell treatment in elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer. METHODSCIK cells were induced and cultured using biotechnics in vitro, and then the cells were infused back into the patients. Sixty elderly gastric cancer patients treated by chemotherapy (FOLFOX4 protocol) were followed-up. Among them, 29 patients were treated with CIK cells during application of chemotherapy. Short-term curative effects and adverse events from the CIK transfusion and chemotherapy were observed. RESULTSEight cases developed partial remission (PR), 9 cases moderate remission (MR), 7 cases stable disease (SD) and 5 cases progressive disease (PD). Out of a total of 29 patients who received chemotherapy combined with autologous CIK therapy, the total remission rate (PR + MR) was 58.6%. The total remission rate following chemotherapy alone was 45.2%, including 5 PR cases, 9 MR cases, 7 SD cases, and 10 PD cases. There was a relatively lower rate of severe chemotherapic toxicities in the CIKcell transfusion group. Side e ects of autologous CIK transfusion included chills (13 cases), fever (9 cases), nausea and vomiting (1 case) and general malaise (3 cases). Side effects were treated with conventional therapy resulting in their amelioration. No patients developed shock, blood capillary leakage syndrome, or abnormalities in routine blood, urine, liver and renal function tests. CONCLUSION Adoptive immunotherapy with autologous CIK cells may decrease the clinical signs and symptoms of elderly patients who suffer from advanced gastric cancer. Adverse reactions of patients can be alleviated by conventional therapy. Autologous CIK-cell transfusion may improve endurance to chemotherapy.KEY WORDS: gastric carcinoma, cytokine-induced killer cells, immunotherapy, adoptive, side e ects.

Clinical Studies Applying Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors

“…Another study that was published in 2008 focuses on the side effects occurring during CIK cell treatment [ 24 ]. Sixty elderly patients with advanced gastric cancer were treated with FOLFOX chemotherapy; 29 of them received additional intravenous (i.v.)…”

“…The twenty clinical studies discussed here prove CIK cell therapy to be an effective treatment option—after or along with conventional therapies—for patients with gastrointestinal tumors. In addition, as it was shown to be safe and not to induce major adverse effects, CIK cell therapy is a valuable alternative for patients not able or willing to tolerate side effects of conventional chemotherapy [ 24 , 33 ]. Within the different studies, CIK cells were applied either via peripheral veins, i.p., or via the common hepatic artery and all approaches were well tolerated.…”

Increasing the frequency of CIK cells adoptive immunotherapy may decrease risk of death in gastric cancer patients

“…Moreover, CIK cells can regulate and enhance immune function [16] . Studies have reported the level of tumor markers, change in cellular immune functions, exploration of molecule targets and a short-term efficacy in gastric cancer patients after chemotherapy plus CIK cells immunotherapy despite some side effects [17][18][19] . However, the relation between the frequencies of CIK cells immunotherapy and its clinical efficacy has not been examined.…”