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

Abstract

Abstract 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 (QoL), 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 QoL 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.