Immunotherapy using dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer for kidney cancer

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy using dendritic cells(DC)and cytokine-in- duced killer(CIK)in treatment of patients with kidney cancer.Methods:Sixty patients with kidney cancer were divided into 2 groups randomly:the control group and immunotherapy group.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)were se- perated from the patients who received immunotherapy first,then DC and CIK were induced and cultured with GM-CSF and IL-4 in vitro.The immunotherapy group received DC four times and CIK twice at an interval of 14 days after routine treat- ment.The control group received only chemotherapy.T lymphocyte subtypes and NK cells in peripheral blood,the white cells and the values of liver and kidney biochemistry of two group of patients were analyzed and clinical efficacy were ob- served,so were side effects.Results:Clinical efficacy showed significant statistical difference between the two groups(P0.05).No side effects were observed.The levels of CD3~+,CD4~+,CD4~+/CD8~+ and NK cell in the immunotherapy group increased after treatment,which showed significant statistical difference compared with those before treatment(P value was 0.010,0.026,0.021,0.016,respectively).Changes in cell immune indexes(CD3~+,CD4~+,CD4~+/CD8~+)in immuno- therapy group and control group showed significant statistical difference(P value was 0.001,0.023,0.012,respectively). Conclusion:Immunotherapy using dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer combined with routine treatment can improve T lymphocyte subtypes and NK cell ratio in peripheral blood of the patients with kidney cancer,and may play an important role in the treatment of kidney cancer.It can enhance clinical efficacy in patients with kidney cancer and can improve prog- nosis.