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Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology 13/2013

01-12-2013 | Hepatobiliary Tumors

The Efficacy of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cell Infusion as an Adjuvant Therapy for Postoperative Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Authors: Ke Pan, PhD, Yong-Qiang Li, BS, Wei Wang, MD, Li Xu, MD, Yao-Jun Zhang, MD, Hai-Xia Zheng, MD, Jing-Jing Zhao, MD, Hui-Juan Qiu, BS, De-Sheng Weng, MD, Jian-Jun Li, MD, Qi-Jing Wang, BS, Li-Xi Huang, BS, Jia He, BS, Shi-Ping Chen, BS, Miao-La Ke, BS, Pei-Hong Wu, MD, Min-Shan Chen, MD, Sheng-Ping Li, MD, Jian-Chuan Xia, PhD, Yi-Xin Zeng, PhD

Published in: Annals of Surgical Oncology | Issue 13/2013

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Abstract

Background

Even after surgery, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has poor prognosis; adjuvant therapy is needed to improve effectively the outcome of HCC patients. We evaluated the efficacy of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell infusion as an adjuvant therapy for postoperative HCC patients.

Methods

A total of 410 patients were studied retrospectively (January 2002 to January 2007): 206 received surgery alone; 204 received surgery and at least four cycles of CIK cell transfusion (CIK group). Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to explore differences in OS between two groups.

Results

The CIK group overall survival rates were significantly higher than that of the surgery-alone group (log-rank test; p = 0.0007). Multivariate survival analysis showed that CIK cell treatment was an independent prognostic factor. In subgroup analysis, patients who received ≥8 cycles of CIK cell transfusion exhibited significantly better survival than the <8 cycle group (p = 0.0272). There was no significant difference in overall survival in patients with ≤5-cm tumors between the CIK and surgery-alone groups (p = 0.7567). However, in patients with >5-cm tumors, the CIK group displayed significantly better overall survival than the surgery-alone group (p = 0.0002).

Conclusions

Postoperative immunotherapy with CIK cell transfusion may be an effective adjuvant treatment for improving the outcomes of HCC patients; >8 cycles of CIK cell transfusion may ensure that patients derive maximal benefits. Moreover, patients with large tumors might benefit more from CIK cell adjuvant treatment than patients with small tumors.
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Metadata
Title
The Efficacy of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cell Infusion as an Adjuvant Therapy for Postoperative Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients
Authors
Ke Pan, PhD
Yong-Qiang Li, BS
Wei Wang, MD
Li Xu, MD
Yao-Jun Zhang, MD
Hai-Xia Zheng, MD
Jing-Jing Zhao, MD
Hui-Juan Qiu, BS
De-Sheng Weng, MD
Jian-Jun Li, MD
Qi-Jing Wang, BS
Li-Xi Huang, BS
Jia He, BS
Shi-Ping Chen, BS
Miao-La Ke, BS
Pei-Hong Wu, MD
Min-Shan Chen, MD
Sheng-Ping Li, MD
Jian-Chuan Xia, PhD
Yi-Xin Zeng, PhD
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Annals of Surgical Oncology / Issue 13/2013
Print ISSN: 1068-9265
Electronic ISSN: 1534-4681
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-013-3144-x

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