Abstract
PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) combined with allogenic natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy in the treatment of patients with unresectable primary liver cancer.Materials and MethodsBetween October 2015 and December 2016, 40 patients were enrolled and randomly allocated to either the IRE group (n = 22) or the IRE–NK group (n = 18). All adverse events experienced by the patients were recorded; the changes in tumor biomarkers [AFP, CA 19-9, circulating tumor cells (CTCs)], lymphocyte number and function, quality of life, clinical response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed.ResultsPatients who received combination therapy exhibited significantly longer median PFS and OS than who just received IRE (PFS 15.1 vs. 10.6 months, P < 0.05, OS 17.9 vs. 23.2 months, P < 0.05). The combination therapy of IRE and NK cell immunotherapy significantly reduced CTCs and increased immune function and Karnofsky performance status.ConclusionOur data suggest a novel, promising combination therapy using IRE and allogenic NK cell immunotherapy. Larger clinical trials are required to confirm these conclusions.
Highlights
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in less developed countries and is the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men in developed countries
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) combined with allogenic natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy in the treatment of patients with unresectable primary liver cancer
The inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) 20–80 years old; (2) clear diagnosis of PLC based on imaging and pathological findings with tumor lesion \ 10 cm; (3) unresectable PLC, which was defined as the impossibility of completely removing the tumor or retaining a sufficient liver remnant to maintain liver function; (4) liver function classified as Child–Pugh class A or B; (5) not more than 3 intrahepatic lesions or 3 extrahepatic metastatic lesions, no invasion of the portal vein, the hepatic vein trunk or secondary branches, and expected survival [ 6 months; and (6) Karnofsky performance status (KPS) [ 60
Summary
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in less developed countries and is the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths among men in developed countries. Its incidence has been increasing every year, with China alone accounting for about 50% of the total estimated new liver cancer cases [1, 2]. Regarded as the gold standard treatment, is suitable for less than 20% of patients with PLC due to multiple tumors, metastasis, hepatic function compromise, or other deleterious factors [3]. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sorafenib treatment have shown promise in randomized controlled trials in selected unresectable PLC. Y. Yang et al.: Safety and Short-Term Efficacy of Irreversible Electroporation and Allogenic
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
