cytokine-induced killer cell therapy

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy developed by Sun Yat-sen University is an autologous adoptive cell immunotherapy currently in Phase 3 clinical trials (NCT02280278) for the adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer. The therapy involves the ex vivo expansion of a patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells using a combination of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), anti-CD3 antibodies, and interleukin-2 (IL-2). This process generates a heterogeneous population of effector cells, characterized by a high proportion of CD3+CD56+ NKT-like cells. These CIK cells exhibit potent, non-MHC-restricted cytolytic activity against tumor cells, primarily mediated through the NKG2D receptor. The treatment is administered intravenously following radical surgery and standard chemotherapy to target residual disease and prevent recurrence.

Other names

CIK cell immunotherapyautologous cytokine-induced killer cellsCIK cellsCIK cell therapy