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Isolation and Expansion of Cytotoxic Cytokine-induced Killer T Cells for Cancer Treatment
11:11

Isolation and Expansion of Cytotoxic Cytokine-induced Killer T Cells for Cancer Treatment

Published on: January 24, 2020

Clinical application of cytokine-induced killer cells in cancer immunotherapy

Farzaneh Ghorbani1, Hossein Abbaszadeh1, Yahya Yahyavi1,2

  • 1Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Cancer Cell International
|June 5, 2026
PubMed

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells exhibit potent antitumor activity with reduced dependence on strict MHC compatibility, mediated by a combination of T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent recognition and natural killer (NK)-like, MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from clinical trial evaluations, including 48 published studies. We examine strategies to enhance CIK function, such as engineering, combination with checkpoint inhibitors, and co-administration with dendritic cells. CIK cell therapy effectively reduces post-treatment recurrence in the adjuvant setting and enhances chemotherapy outcomes in advanced disease, significantly improving key survival metrics across multiple cancers. A detailed analysis is conducted of ongoing challenges, such as immunosuppressive conditions in tumor microenvironments, limited in vivo durability, product variability, and choosing the best treatment plans. Future advancements in translation depend on establishing standardized manufacturing procedures, developing treatment algorithms guided by precision biomarkers, and validating next-generation engineered CIK cell products in clinical settings.

Keywords:
Adoptive cell therapyCIK cellsCancer immunotherapyClinical trialsCombination therapy

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