DC-CIK combined with surgical therapy for primary liver cancer

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cells combined with surgical treatment for primary liver cancer. Methods Totally 78 patients with primary liver cancer were randomly divided into experiment group(n=30) and control group(n=48). The patients in experiment group received hepatectomy combined with dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cell treatment while those in control group were given hepatectomy treatment. The median time to recurrence, progression-free survival, survival and quality of life were evaluated. Observed side effects of cell therapy in experiment group. Results Experiment group received a total of dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cell treatment 78, an average of 2.6 times per person. Fever occured in 8 patients who received dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cell treatment. After one cycle of immune therapy, the KPS score of 20 cases was improved, 8 cases were stable and and 2 case was worsen in the experiment group. The KPS score of 10 cases were improved, 32 cases were stable and and 6 cases were worsen in the control group, and the difference is statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusions Dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cells combined with surgical treatment on primary liver cancer is safe and effective, it can improve quality of life, and delay the recurrence time after surgery. But not improve long-term survival. Key words: Dendritic cells; Cytokine induced killer cells; Primary liver cancer; Hepatectomy