Study on the antitumor effects of autologous and allogeneic CIK cells in patients with breast cancer

Objective This study aimed to compare the anti-tumor effects of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cellsinduced by autologous cytokines in patients with breast cancer and those of allogeneic CIK cells fromhealthy adults.Methods We used conventional methods to induce CIK cells originating from two peripheral bloodmononuclear cell types (from patients with breast cancer and healthy adults). Killing activity was detectedusing an LDH assay, immunophenotypic changes were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the IFN-γ level ofculture supernatants was detected by ELISA.Results The results showed that the proliferative capacity of the allogeneic CIK cells was significantlyhigher than that of the autologous CIK cells. Compared with autologous CIK cells, the allogeneic CIK cellshad significantly enhanced anti-tumor activity against SKBR-3 cells (P < 0.01) and IFN-γ secretion (P <0.05);moreover, they increased the ratio of CD3+ CD56+ cells and CD3+ CD8+ cells (P < 0.05).Conclusion Healthy adult-derived induced CIK cells exhibited a stronger anti-tumor effect than inducedCIK cells derived from patients with breast cancer. The results of this study could provide experimentalevidence for the clinical application of CIK cells.

Clinical study of co-treatment with DC-CIK cells for advanced solid carcinomas

Objective： The aim of this study was to observe the therapeutic effect of cytokine induced killer （CIK） cells in combination with dendritic cells （DCs） on advanced solid carcinoma patients. Methods： Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs） from 110 advanced solid tumor patients. Added granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor （GM-CSF）, tumor necrosis factor-a （TNF-a） and interleukin-4 （IL-4） to adherent cells to induce DCs, and sensitized DCs with antigens of autologous tumor cells or extrinsic tumor cell lines. Cultured suspending cells with interferon-y （IFN-y）, interleukin-2 （IL-2） and CD3 monoclonal antibody （CD3 McAb） to prepare CIK cells, then co-cultured with DCs. After analyzing the phenotype and checking tumor markers and immune function, the autologous CIK cells and DCs were transfused into the cancer patients. Results： Forty-two patients with measurable nidus, 2 achieved complete remission （CR）, 9 partial remission （PR） and 15 stable disease （SD）, while 37 patients with immeasurable nidus, 25 had efficient response. The tumor markers and immune function both improved significantly compared with those before treatment. Conclusion： DCs and CIK cells combinational treatment is safe and effective on advanced solid carcinoma and provide a new and efficacious immunity therapeutic methods for the cancer patients.

The effects of CIK cells on the treatment of renal cell carcinoma

Objective： To observe the effects of cytokine-induced killer （CIK） cells on the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. Methods： Twenty-eight postoperative cases with stage Ⅰ or stage Ⅱrenal cell carcinoma were admitted in our hospital from January 2002 to June 2006, all cases were pathologically confirmed, and were divided into group A （18 cases） and group B （10 cases）. Group A was administrated 3-12 periods of CIK cells treatment combined with 5-7 cycles of IL-2 and INFα-2b, together with 4 cycles of chemotherapy （5-Fu ＋ CF）. Group B was given 4 cycles of chemotherapy （5-Fu ＋ CF） and 5-7 cycles of IL-2 and INFa-2b. Results： Three cases in group A had metastatic masses in two lungs within 1 year and died within 2 years postoperatively. The other 15 cases are still alive and in good health. Six cases in group B had metastatic masses in two lungs or/and in abdominal cavity within 1 year, and 4 of them died within 2 years. All the 6 cases died within 3 years. The other 4 cases are still alive and in good health. Conclusion： CIK cells are safe and effective for the treatment of stage I or stage II renal cell carcinoma, which should be further widely used.

Research on the biological activity and anti-tumor effect against lymphoma cells of DC-CIK cells

Objective： To investigate the proliferation capabilities, immunophenotype changes, level of secreted cytokines and activities against lymphoma cells under the condition that cytokine-induced killer （CIK） cells co-cultured with dendritic cells （DC） in vitro. Methods： DC and CIK cells were induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy volunteers. They were co-cultured meanwhile CIK cells were cultured alone as controls. Increased number of cells were counted by tapan-blue staining, killing activities were detected by MTT assay, immunophenotype changes were analyzed by flow cytometry, the IL-12 and INF-y levels of the cultured supernatants were detected by ELISA kits. Results： The proliferation capabilities of DC-CIK cells were significantly higher than that of CIK cells （P 〈 0.05）. Under the same condition, the ratio of double positive cells such as CD3^＋ CD8^＋, CD3^＋ CD56^＋ in CIK cells was significantly enhanced by co-cultured with DC cells （P 〈 0.05）. The level of IL-12 and INF-y secreted in supernatants was increased noticeably by co-cultured DC-CIK cells on day 3 compared to CIK cells which were cultured alone （P 〈 0.01 and P 〈 0.05）. Within the effector-target ratio range between 5：1 to 40：1, the activities against lymphoma cells of DC-CIK cells were much higher than that of CIK cells （P 〈 0.05）, and this effect was showed a positive correlation with the effector-target ratio. Conclusion： The proliferation capabilities, the level of secreted cytokines and the activities against lymphoma cells of DC-CIK cells were significantly higher than those of CIK cells. The research might provides theoretical and experimental basis for clinical immunotherapy of DC-CIK cells.

Effect of IL-12 on the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CIK cells to gastric adenocarcinoma cell BGC-823

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of interleukin-12(IL-12) on the proliferation and cytotoxicity of cytokine-induced killer(CIK) cells in vitro. Methods: Three different combinations of cytokines, IL-2, IL-12 + IL-2, and IL-12, were used to proliferate CIK cells, adding IFN-γ, IL-1 and CD3 McAb in each one. Phenotype of the cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The cellular proliferation and cytotoxic activity were determined by cytometry and MTT assay. Results: CIK cells generated by the three methods showed high reproductive activity, and no obviously difference in inducing CD3+CD56+ cells was found among the three groups. The group of IL-2 + IL-12 evidently enhanced both the proliferation and the cytotoxicity of the CIK cells compared with the other two groups(P < 0.05). Conclusion: IL-12 could be used to induce the CIK cells as well as IL-2. CIK cells induced by combining IL-12 with IL-2 had stronger proliferative ability and higher cytotoxicity to tumor cells in vitro, which could be used as a potential anti-tumor adoptive immunotherapy in clinic.

Study of Multi-directional Derivation of Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells and Observation of Killing Activity to MGC-803 Gastric Cancer Cell Strain In Vitro

Objective： To study multi-directional derivation of cord blood mononuclear cells to CD3AK, LAK and CIK cells as well as changes of killing activity to gastric cancer cell strain in vitro. Methods： CD3mAb and IL-2 were used to induce CD3AK cells, and IL-2 was used to induce LAK cells; IFN-γ was used in the beginning, then IL-1, CD3mAb and IL-2 were used to induce CIK cells after 24 h for observing amplification and analyzing their relationship. The phenotypes of the cultured CIK cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Subsequently, by using MGC-803 gastric cancer cell strain as target cells, the killing activity of CD3AK, LAK and CIK cells was evaluated by using MTT method. Results： The amplification activity of CD3AK and CIK cells was all far higher than LAK cells （P〈0.05）. The amplification activity had no obvious difference between CIK cells and CD3AK cells at prophase, but that was far higher in CIK cells than CD3AK cells at about 20^th day （P〈0.05）. The flow cytometry revealed that the amount of CD3^＋ CD56^＋ cells, major effector cells after CIK cells being cultured was significantly increased （P〈0.05）, moreover, the amount of CD8^＋ cells was significantly increased as well （P〈0.05）. The killing activities of CD3AK and CIK cells to the MGC-803 gastric cancer cell strain were all significantly higher than LAK cells, while the killing activity of CIK cells was stronger than CD3AK cells （P〈0.05）. Conclusion： CIK cells have stronger amplification activity and killing activity, and can be taken as more effective killing cells applied to the tumor adoptive immunotherapy.

Preliminary Study of Local Immunotherapy with Autologous Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells for Glioma Patients

OBJECTIVE Cytokine-induced killer （CIK） cells are T-cells that display effective anti-tumor activity. In this stud, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of CIK cells in vitro, and conducted a preliminary investigation using autologous CIK cells to treat glioma patients through local administration. METHODS The CIK cells were derived from peripheral blood monocytes （PBMCs） of the glioma patients. The anti-tumor activity of the CIK cells against human T98-G glioma cell was tested in vitro. In addition, the autologous CIK cells were locally administrated into the tumor cavity in the malignant glioma patients through an Ommaya reservoir which was pre-inserted during tumor resection. The 4 x 108 CIK cells in a 5 ml suspension were injected once a week 2 times per cycle. Five hundreds KU of IL-2 was injected every other day. RESULTS （i） With incubation, the CIK cells showed dual staining of CD3^＋CD56^＋ with a positive rate of 3.45% on day 10 and 55.2% on day 30. In vitro anti-tumor activity （against T98-G cells） of the CIK cells reached the highest level after 18 days of incubation with different effector/target （E：T） ratios. （ii） Six patients received autologous CIK cell treatment （10 cycles）. Two patients showed no recurrence and are still alive （24 and 10 months）, while 4 cases had a recurrence 3 of which have died. The mean survival time from the first CIK cell treatment to the end of follow-up was 12.5 months. The main side-effects of the local CIK cell treatment was brain edema, which was controlled by mannitol in most of the cases. However for one patient injection of CIK cells and IL-2 had to be discontinued. CONCLUSION In vitro CIK cells are effective anti-glioma T-cells. Local therapy with CIK cells has potential anti-glioma efficacy and tolerable side-effects.

In vitro incubation of cytokine-induced killer cells from patients with and without hepatitis B virus and a cell subset analysis

Objective The aim of the study was to explore the difference between immune cell subsets during the incubation of cytokine-induced kill cells （CIKs） from patients with and without hepatitis B virus （HBV）. Methods Peripheral blood samples were extracted from 50 tumor patients, and were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of HBV. The proliferation rate and activity of CIK cells were examined based on counts on days 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 of culture. Additionally, the CD3＋, CD4＋, CD8＋, CD3＋CD8＋, C＋）3＋CD4＋, and CD3＋CD56＋ T cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry on days 5, 7, 10, 13, and 15 of culture. Results Proliferation over a 15-day period was higher in the HBV-positive group than in the negative group （280-fold vs. 180-fold increase, respectively）, but there was no significant difference between the two groups at each time point. The frequencies of CD3＋, CD8＋ T, CD3＋CD8＋, and CD3＋CD56＋T cells increased over time, while those of CD4＋ and CD3＋CD4＋ T cells decreased over time, and these changes were greater in the positive group than in the negative group. The differences in CD8＋ T cells and CD3＋CD4＋ T cells between the two groups were significant （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion The proliferative capacity of CIK cells was higher for patients in the HBV-positive group than those in the HBV-negative group, and immune cell subsets were more favorable in the HBV-positive group than the neaative arouD.

Effect of dendritic cell/cytokine-induced killer cell immunobiological cancer therapy combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dendritic cell(DC)/cytokine-induced killer cell(CIK) immunobiological cancer therapy in patients with triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC) who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods From January 2010 to October 2013, 120 patients with postoperative TNBC were recruited and included in the study. Patients were enrolled in one of two groups according to whether they accepted DC/CIK immunobiological cancer therapy during adjuvant chemotherapy; the patients in the DC/CIK group underwent adjuvant chemotherapy combined with DC/CIK immunobiological cancer therapy, and the control group underwent adjuvant chemotherapy alone. When six cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy and six cycles of DC/CIK immunobiological cancer therapy had been completed, differences between the two groups with regard to quality of life(Qo L), immunological indicators(CD3, CD4, CD8, and NK cell levels), disease-free survival(DFS), and side effects of chemotherapy and DC/CIK treatment were evaluated.Results In the DC/CIK group, the proportion of NK cells and CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell subgroups significantly increased, and the proportion of CD8+ cells decreased when they were compared before and after DC/CIK therapy(P < 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in the control group. By the final follow-up, DFS of the treatment group and the control group was 38.4 and 34.2 months, respectively. The Qo L improved in the patients treated with chemotherapy plus DC/CIK therapy compared with the patients treated with chemotherapy alone, and the difference between groups was significant(P < 0.05). The side effects of two groups were tolerable and not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion The DC/CIK treatment had potential benefits for patients with TNBC compared with the control group, and was not associated with any obvious side effects. Therefore, DC/CIK therapy is a safe and effective method for the treatment of TNBC.

The influence of autologous cytokine-induced killer cell treatment on the objective efficacy and safety of gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Objective The aim of the study was to observe the influence of autologous cytokine-induced killer cell （CIK） treatment on the objective efficacy and safety of gefitinib in advanced non-small ceil lung cancer （NSCLC）. Methods Sixty-six patients with NSCLC received gefitinib as second-line treatment. They were randomly divided into 2 groups, and informed consent forms were signed before grouping. Gefitinib was administrated to the control group, and autologous CIK treatment was added to the observation group. The objective treatment and adverse reactions were evaluated in both groups. Results The objective response rate （ORR） and the disease control rate （DCR） of the observation group were slightly higher than those of the control group, although no statistical differences were found between the 2 groups （P 〉 0.05）. The incidences of diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia, oral ulcers, and myelosuppression in the observation group were much lower than those in the control group （P 〈 0.05）. However, there were no statistical differences between the incidences of skin rash, and liver and kidney toxicities （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion Autologous CIK in combination with gefitinib is effective as second-line treatment fore ad- vanced NSCLC, and can significantly reduce adverse reactions and improve the objective efficacy.