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Clinical effects of autologous dendritic cells combined with cytokine-induced killer cells followed by chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective study

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dendritic cell and cytokine-induced killer (DC-CIK) cell-based immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy on the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. We prospectively included patients with advanced colorectal cancer and assessed the efficacy of DC-CIK cell-based immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy compared to treatment with chemotherapy alone. T cell subtypes, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events were evaluated in each group. In total, 134 patients were included in the DC-CIK group and 121 patients were included in the control group. No significant differences were observed in the percentages of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, and NK cells after DC-CIK cell-based immunotherapy compared to before chemotherapy in the DC-CIK group. The median PFS and OS in the DC-CIK treatment group were 8.8 months (95 % CI 8.4–9.1) and 14.7 months (95 % CI 13.9–15.5), respectively, which were significantly improved compared to the PFS and OS in the control group. The frequencies of grade III and IV leukopenia (8.2 vs. 19.0 %, P = 0.011), grade III and IV anemia (3.0 vs. 9.1 %, P = 0.039), and grade III and IV thrombocytopenia (3.7 vs. 10.7 %, P = 0.029) were significantly lower in the DC-CIK group compared to the control group. DC-CIK cell-based immunotherapy could induce an immune response against colorectal cancer and prolong PFS and OS. DC-CIK cell-based immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy had a significant benefit in terms of survival in patients with colorectal cancer compared to chemotherapy alone.

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Ethical approval

All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This study was approved by the ethical committee of the Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, and written informed consent was obtained from the patients when they were enrolled in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Colorectal Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, NO. 44 Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, Liaoning Province, China

    Tao Lin, Chun Song, Dong-yu Chuo, Hao Zhang & Jian Zhao

Authors
  1. Tao Lin
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  2. Chun Song
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  3. Dong-yu Chuo
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  4. Hao Zhang
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  5. Jian Zhao
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Correspondence to Chun Song.

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Lin, T., Song, C., Chuo, Dy. et al. Clinical effects of autologous dendritic cells combined with cytokine-induced killer cells followed by chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective study. Tumor Biol. 37, 4367–4372 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-3957-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-015-3957-2

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