Cytokine-Induced Killer Cell Immunotherapy Reduces Recurrence in Patients with Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

作者：Dong Hyun Kim, Eun Min Kim, Jae Seung Lee, Mi Na Kim, Beom Kyung Kim, Seung Up Kim, Jun Yong Park, Gi Hong Choi, Sang Hoon Ahn, Hye Won Lee, Do Young Kim · 发表于：Cancers · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/cancers17040566 · 被引用次数：4 · 研究领域：Immune Cell Function and Interaction、Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment and Prognosis、CAR-T cell therapy research

Background/Objectives: Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy has shown promise in reducing recurrence and improving survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of CIK cell therapy in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 49 patients who received CIK cell therapy after curative resection or radiofrequency ablation, compared with 49 matched control patients via 1:1 propensity score matching. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival (RFS), and the secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Results: The median follow-up durations were 19.1 months for the immune cell group and 67.7 months for the control group. In univariable analysis, the immune cell group demonstrated a prolonged RFS than the control group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15–0.71; log-rank p = 0.001). The median RFS was not reached in the immune cell group but was 48.62 months in the control group. A multivariable Cox regression model identified CIK cell therapy as a significant factor associated with a reduced risk of HCC recurrence (adjusted HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.15–0.71; p = 0.005). The median OS was not reached in either group; no significant differences in OS were observed between the immune cell and control groups (log-rank p = 0.082). The overall incidence of adverse events was low, and no Grade 3 or 4 events were reported. Conclusions: Adjuvant CIK cell immunotherapy after curative treatment ...