dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cell therapy

Dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer (DC-CIK) cell therapy is an autologous adoptive cell immunotherapy that combines two distinct immune cell types to target malignancies. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that, when co-cultured with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, enhance the latter's anti-tumor activity by presenting tumor-associated antigens and secreting stimulatory cytokines. CIK cells are ex vivo-expanded T lymphocytes with a natural killer (NK) T-cell phenotype (co-expressing CD3 and CD56) that exhibit potent, non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity against cancer cells. This therapy is typically produced by isolating peripheral blood mononuclear cells from the patient, differentiating them into DCs and CIK cells, and then re-infusing the combined product. It is being investigated across various solid tumors, including breast, pancreatic, and lung cancers, as well as chronic viral infections.

Other names

DC-CIK cell immunotherapyDC-CIK cell therapyautologous dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cell therapy