Efficiency of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells in Combination with Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Purpose: The treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains challenging, due to the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptors. This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy, following regular chemotherapy, for patients with TNBC.

Methods: A total of 340 patients with postmastectomy TNBC, from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2014, were included in this retrospective study. Seventy-seven patients received CIK cell immunotherapy, following regular chemotherapy (arm 1), and 263 patients received regular chemotherapy alone (arm 2). The primary aim was overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), and the treatment responses and adverse events were also evaluated.

Results: The 5-year DFS and OS rates in arm 1 were 77.9% and 94.3%, compared with 69.8% and 85.6% in arm 2, respectively (p=0.159 and p=0.035, respectively). This clearly shows that there was no statistical difference in the 5-year DFS between the two groups. Multivariate analyses of arm 1 indicated that a Karnofsky performance score (KPS) ≥90 and stage I/IIA disease were significantly associated with a prolonged DFS period (hazard ratio [HR], 0.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-0.74; p=0.012; and HR 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.82; p=0.024, respectively), but a KPS ≥90 and stage I/IIA disease were not independent prognostic factors for OS. Toxicity was mild in patients who received the CIK therapy.

Conclusion: The data suggested that CIK cell immunotherapy improved the efficiency of regular chemotherapy in patients with TNBC, and the side effects of CIK cell immunotherapy were mild.