Investigation of the curative effect of chemotherapy combined with DC-CIK cell immunotherapy in metastatic breast carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To compare the efficacy and adverse reactions of TA regimen (docetaxel + epirubicin) and immunization therapy of TA regimen combined with dendritic cell (DC)-cytokine induced killer cell (CIK) in treating the patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methods Clinical data of 43 patients with MBC received treatment in our hospital from January 2011 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients included were divided into two groups according to the treatment, simple treatment group (TA regimen, control group, 22 cases) and combined treatment group (TA regimen + DC-CIK cell, observation group, 21 cases). The curative effect, improvement situation of clinical symptoms, adverse reactions and changes of T cell immune phenotype in peripheral blood of patients before and after treatment in the two groups were compared. Results The total efficiency of treatment in observation group (85.7%) was higher than that in control group (63.6%), and the difference was statistical significant (χ2=4.949, P=0.026). Among the incidences of all kinds of adverse reaction appeared during the treatment in two groups, the white blood cells count decreased was the highest in observation group (76.2%) and in control group (59.1%), the difference had no statistical significance (χ2=0.858, P=0.36). After treatment, the rates of fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia and night sweats of patients in observation group were lower than those in control group (23.8% vs. 54.5%, χ2=4.246, P=0.04; 19.0% vs. 54.5%, χ2=5.795, P=0.02; 19.0% vs. 50.0%, χ2=4.532, P=0.03). The CD3+ (60.4±12.3 vs. 47.4±12.8, t=3.393, P<0.01), CD3+ /CD4+ (41.7±9.6 vs. 28.1±10.5, t=5.442, P<0.01), CD4+ /CD8+ (1.5±0.2 vs. 1.0±0.2, t=8.195, P<0.01), NK cells (27.3±5.9 vs. 15.3±6.1, t=6.643, P<0.01), NK T cells (14.7±1.4 vs. 6.0±1.2, t=11.020, P<0.01) after treatment in observation group were obviously higher than those in control group. Conclusion Comparing with the pure TA scheme, the curative effect of immunization therapy of TA regimen combined with DC-CIK cell in treating the patients with MBC is better. It significantly improves the immune functions of patients with MBC, and does not increase adverse reaction. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Immunotherapy; Antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols