DCIK

DCIK (Dendritic Cell-activated Cytokine Induced Killer cells) is an autologous adoptive cell therapy developed by Qingdao University for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The therapy involves the ex vivo expansion and activation of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells—a heterogeneous population of effector lymphocytes, primarily CD3+CD56+ T cells—which are co-cultured with autologous dendritic cells (DCs). Dendritic cells act as potent antigen-presenting cells that enhance the proliferation, cytokine secretion (such as interferon-gamma), and tumor-specific cytotoxicity of the CIK cells. This combination therapy leverages the non-MHC-restricted killing ability of CIK cells, often mediated by the NKG2D receptor, alongside the antigen-specific activation provided by DCs. It is typically administered as an adjuvant treatment following surgical resection to target residual micrometastases and reduce the risk of disease recurrence in RCC patients.

Other names

DC-CIKDC-activated CIK cellsDendritic cell-activated cytokine-induced killer cellsDCIK immunotherapy