Clinical Report: Evaluation of CIK Cell Therapy in Gastric Cancer
Overview
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the safety and efficacy of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy in gastric cancer, revealing significant improvements in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-free survival (DFS) when combined with chemotherapy. The findings suggest that CIK therapy may enhance treatment outcomes without severe adverse effects.
Background
Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with a poor prognosis, particularly in advanced stages. The need for effective treatment strategies is critical, as current therapies often yield limited survival benefits. CIK cell therapy represents a novel immunotherapeutic approach that may offer additional benefits when combined with conventional chemotherapy.
Data Highlights
Outcome
HR (95% CI)
p-value
Overall Survival (OS)
0.60 (0.48–0.75)
<0.001
Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
0.60 (0.46–0.77)
<0.001
Disease-Free Survival (DFS)
0.70 (0.58–0.86)
<0.001
Objective Response Rate (ORR)
0.46 (−0.07 to 0.99)
0.09
Disease Control Rate (DCR)
0.81 (0.17 to 1.45)
0.01
Key Findings
CIK/DC-CIK therapy combined with chemotherapy significantly improved OS, PFS, and DFS compared to chemotherapy alone.
The pooled HR for OS was 0.60, indicating a 40% reduction in the risk of death.
Immunological analyses showed increased CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ T cells.
Fever was the most frequently reported infusion-related adverse event, with no fatal adverse events noted.
Grade ≥3 adverse events were inconsistently reported, limiting safety conclusions.
Clinical Implications
The findings suggest that CIK cell therapy may be a viable adjunct to chemotherapy for gastric cancer patients, potentially improving survival outcomes. However, further validation in diverse populations is necessary to confirm these results.
Conclusion
CIK cell therapy combined with chemotherapy shows promise in improving survival outcomes for gastric cancer patients, warranting further investigation in broader clinical settings.
