The role of maintenance therapy in the management of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) has not been confirmed. Many treatment modalities like chemotherapy, interferons and other biological agents have been tested as maintenance therapy in SCLC, but the results are disappointing. A marginal survival advantage is seen in maintenance with chemotherapy and interferon-alpha, however, the functioning status and immune system may get worse, which subsequently has a 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 randomized controlled study was conducted to compare CIK cells with best supportive care as maintenance therapy for SCLC.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Subjects receive autologous cytokine-induced killer cell infusion every month in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Best Supportive Care in the absence of disease progression
The people's Hospital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
Nanning, Guangxi, China
RECRUITINGProgression-free survival
Time frame: One year
Overall survival
Time frame: Two years
Quality-of-life
Time frame: 2 years
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