Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and analyze the related predictive factors of cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) in the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma(MRCC).
Methods Baseline characteristics and outcomes of 168 patients with MRCC were collected from the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from March 2002 to July 2010.A total of 80 patients received autologous CIK cell treatment(CIK group).and 88 received 11.-2 treatment combined with IFN-α(control group).Progression-free survival(PFS) and overall survival(OS) were evaluated.
Results The 1-, 2-, and 3-year PFS rates in the CIK group were 47%, 28%.and 17%, compared with the 36%, 15%and 10%in the control group(P = 0.015, 0.009, and 0.019, respectively).The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates in the CIK group were 87%.67%.and 59%.compared with 55%, 37%.and 18% in the control group(P < 0.001 for all).The median PFS and OS durations in the CIK group were significantly higher than those in the control group(12 months vs.9 months, P = 0.013:and 46 months vs.18 months, P < 0.001.respectively).Multivariate analysis revealed that the Karnofsky performance status(KPS), number of metastatic sites, and frequency of CIK cell immunotherapy were significantly related with the OS duration.The optimal outpoint of frequency was seven times.
Conclusion The data suggested for the first time that CIK cell immunotherapy can improve the prognosis of MRCC.Patients with higher KPS and no more than one metastatic site have a better survival rate.Increasing the frequency of CIK cell treatment seems to benefit patients more.