Objective: To evaluate the effect and side effects of CD34+ originated dendritic cells (DCs) infusion to treat malignant effusions.
Methods: Twenty-three patients with 26 malignant effusions received chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or G-CSF alone to mobilize peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells. CD34+ stem cells were induced to differentiate into DCs by cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). After being cultured for 10 to 14 days to stimulate proliferation and grow mature, DCs were refused into the body cavity by drainage tube weekly for 3 weeks.
Results: The response rate was 54% (14/26) and the benefit rate 81%. The median duration of response was 20 weeks (range:4-45 weeks). Karnofsky performance score (KPS) was improved in 15 patients. The response rate was 50% for the naive patients and 57% for the refractory patients. There were no severe side-effects.
Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates that DCs derived in vitro can exist viably after intropleural injection and can mediate biologic activity to malignant effusions. DCs immunotherapy is promising to treat malignant effusions with good tolerance.