umbilical cord blood cytokine-induced killer cells

Umbilical cord blood cytokine-induced killer (CB-CIK) cells are a form of adoptive cell therapy generated by ex vivo expansion and activation of mononuclear cells from human umbilical cord blood using a combination of cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), anti-CD3 antibody, interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-2 (IL-2)[1][2][8]. These immune effector cells display both T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell-like phenotypes, most notably the CD3+CD56+ population. CB-CIK cells exhibit potent MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity against tumor targets through mechanisms involving both T-cell receptor/CD3-mediated recognition and NK cell receptors such as NKG2D, DNAM-1, and NKp30[1]. They have been shown to proliferate robustly in vitro and demonstrate strong anti-tumor activity against various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies[5][8]. Clinical studies indicate that CB-CIK therapy is feasible with manageable safety profiles in cancer patients who may not tolerate repeated autologous leukapheresis[5].

Other names

CB-CIK cellscord blood-derived cytokine-induced killer cellsumbilical cord blood CIK cells