dendritic cell + cytokine-induced killer cell

Dendritic cell + cytokine-induced killer cell (DC+CIK) is an investigational cell-based immunotherapy being developed by the University of Malaya for the treatment of advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This biologic therapy consists of two distinct cellular components: autologous dendritic cells (DCs) and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. Dendritic cells are professional antigen-presenting cells that are prepared to prime and activate tumor-specific T-cell responses. CIK cells are a heterogeneous population of ex vivo-expanded effector lymphocytes, primarily CD3+CD56+ cells, that exhibit potent, non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity against cancer cells, often mediated by the NKG2D receptor. The therapy is currently being evaluated in the Phase 2/3 DECIMATE 3.0 trial (NCT05955157) as a maintenance treatment in combination with the chemotherapy agent S-1 for patients with advanced PDAC who have achieved stable disease after first-line chemotherapy. The treatment aims to improve clinical benefit rates and reduce the population of circulating cancer stem cells.

Other names

DC+CIKDC-CIKDC+CIK immunotherapy