OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of CIK cells on the level of peripheral blood immune cells in the elderly patients with multiple myeloma and its safety.

METHODSA total of 60 patients with multiple myeloma from April 2004 to April 2015 in our hospital were enrolled in the study. According to the treatment plan, the patients were randomly divided into control and observation group. The patients in control group was given VAD chemotherapy, the patients in observation group was treated with CIK cells on basis of the control group protocol. ELISA was used to detect the serum levels of IL-17, IL-6 and transforming growth factor (TGF); the hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and serum creatinine were assayed also. The incidence of adverse reaction in patients was assayed; the therapeutic efficacy of observation and control groups was judged after treatment curses.

RESULTSThe serum levels of IL-17, IL-6 and TGF-β between two groups before treatment were not significantly different (P > 0.05), but after treatment, thier levels in two groups decreased, moreover the levels of the observation group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the levels of CD3(+) CD4(+), CD3(+) CD8(+) and CD3(+) CD4(+)/CD3(+) CD8(+) between the two groups (P > 0.05); after treatment, these levels all decreased, moreover the levels of the observation group significantlly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations, chest tightness, increase of myocardial enzyme, amino transferase and creatinine all were not significantly different between two groups (P > 0.05). The curative efficiency of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCIK cell therapy has better curative effect in the elderly patients with multiple myeloma. The level of peripheral blood immune cells can be significantly increased by decreasing the level of immunosuppressive factor.