OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of autologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell t combined with XELOX regimen in treatment of senile advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSForty-six cases of senile advanced gastric cancer patients with a mean age of 70 years were prospectively divided into two groups according to individual acceptance of CIK cells: 25 patients receiving autologous CIK cell treatment combined with XELOX regimen (trial group) and 21 patients receiving simple chemotherapy (control group). Patients in CIK group were matched to those in control group by sex, ages, KPS ranking scores, histological type, pathological grade, and clinical stage. Immune reaction, adverse reaction, time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.

RESULTSHost immune function was increased (P<0.05) and the adverse reaction was decreased in patients of trial group as compared to control group. There were no significant differences in response rate (RR)(33.3% vs. 23.1%, P>0.05), disease control rate (DCR)(86.7% vs. 80.8%, P>0.05) between the two groups. TTP (4.8 months vs. 3.1 months, P<0.05) and OS (7.1 months vs. 5.9 months, P<0.05) in trial group were significantly improved as compared to control group.

CONCLUSIONAutologous CIK cells combined with XELOX regimen can increase immune function, improve clinical efficacy, decrease adverse reaction and prolong OS for senile patients with advanced gastric cancers.