Adoptive immunotherapy using autologous lymphocytes activated ex vivo with antigen stimulation for patients with incurable cancer
Adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) using autologous lymphocytes activated ex vivo with antigen stimulation, including zoledronate-activated killer (ZAK) cells, were conducted in the treatment of patients with incurable cancer. Efficacy, safety and treatment feasibility were all evaluated, retrospectively. Two-hundred and twenty-eight patients were enrolled and 198 were treated with AIT every 3 weeks. Success of effector cell generation was evident in 94.0% of the culture. A mean number of the administration was 6.8 times with a total number of 5.8 x 109 cells. Survival analysis implied marginal benefit of AIT in addition to chemotherapy in lung, colorectal, pancreatic cancers, especially in biliary cancer, showing the median survival time of 11.9 months. Objective tumor response of 3 CR and 6 PR was observed in colorectal, pancreatic, breast and biliary cancers, showing a response rate of 13.2 %. Improvement of QOL was replied in 33 % patients and FACT-BRM analysis demonstrated significant improvements in physical, social, emotional and functional well-beings. Together, it is suggested that AIT using autologous lymphocytes activated ex vivo with antigen stimulation, including ZAK cells, is safe and feasible, and may be effective in prolonging survival and improving QOL for patients with incurable cancer. doi：10.11482/KMJ-E40（1）33 (Accepted on December 18, 2013)
