Long-term clinical efficacy of cytokine-induced killer cell-based immunotherapy in early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Yanfen Liu; Zhen Zhang; Yonggui Tian; Dan Wang; Saisai Liu; Lin Li; Na Hao; Guohui Qin; Xuan Zhao; Shuangning Yang; Jianmin Huang; Chunyi Shen; Qingyang Lei; Liping Wang; Yi Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.12.008

Long-term clinical efficacy of cytokine-induced killer cell-based immunotherapy in early-stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Cytotherapy. 2022 May;24(5):526-533. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.12.008. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Authors

Yanfen Liu¹, Zhen Zhang², Yonggui Tian², Dan Wang², Saisai Liu², Lin Li³, Na Hao³, Guohui Qin², Xuan Zhao², Shuangning Yang⁴, Jianmin Huang², Chunyi Shen², Qingyang Lei², Liping Wang³, Yi Zhang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, China.
² Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, China.
³ Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
⁴ Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
⁵ Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, China; School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou, China. Electronic address: yizhang@zzu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35219583
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.12.008

Abstract

Background aims: In this retrospective clinical study, the authors investigated the impact of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell-based immunotherapies on the long-term survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: A total of 87 patients with ESCC who received comprehensive treatment were enrolled in the study. Of these patients, 43 were in the control group and 44 were in the CIK treatment group. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to detect the phenotype and anti-tumor function of CIK cells. Clinical characteristics were compared between these two groups, and the survival estimates of ESCC patients were determined using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results: CIK cells contained a high proportion of the main functional fraction (CD3⁺CD56⁺ group) and exhibited a strong killing ability for esophageal cancer cells in vitro. Importantly, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were significantly higher in the CIK group than in the control group in early-stage ESCC. However, patients with advanced-stage ESCC did not benefit from CIK cell-based therapy in terms of OS and PFS compared with the control group.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate that CIK cells combined with conventional treatments potentially prolong long-term survival of patients and may serve as a combined therapeutic approach for the treatment of early-stage ESCC.

Keywords: CIK; anti-tumor function; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; overall survival.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Combined Modality Therapy
Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells*
Esophageal Neoplasms* / therapy
Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma* / therapy
Humans
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome