Maintenance therapy has been considered as an important component to prolong survival in patients with advanced Nonsquamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Previous studies have confirmed that pemetrexed is one of the effective drugs in improving progression-free survival for stage IIIb-IV nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer. With the periodic deliveries of pemetrexed, however,the functioning status and immune system may get worse, which subsequently has an negative impact on patient's quality-of-life. Immunotherapy with autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells can activate the antitumor defense mechanism through stimulating immune response and altering the interaction between tumor and its host. This effect may result in improved tumor control and survival, as well as a better quality of life. To test the hypothesis, a randomised controlled study was conducted to compare CIK cells with pemetrexed as maintenance therapy for stage IIIb-IV nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
120
Subjects receive autologous cytokine-induced killer cell infusion every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Subjects receive pemetrexed infusion at a dose of 500mg/m2 every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Clinical Cancer Center, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
Nanning, Guangxi, China
RECRUITINGProgression-free survival
Time frame: One year
Overall survival
Time frame: Two years
Toxicities
Time frame: Two years
Quality-of-life
Time frame: Two years
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