Translational landscape of cytokine-induced killer cell therapy: an analysis based on the Informa database

This study maps the global clinical trial landscape of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy across malignancies and selected immune-related disorders, based on 199 interventional trials retrieved from the Informa database up to February 2026. Analysis reveals a rapidly expanding field dominated by early-phase studies, with China leading clinical translation and academic institutions as primary sponsors. Oncology trials are most frequent, particularly in lung cancer, leukemia, and hepatocellular carcinoma, while combinatorial strategies such as dendritic cell-CIK therapy or checkpoint inhibitor combinations are increasingly explored. Adjuvant and maintenance settings predominate over neoadjuvant applications, and emerging studies indicate potential extension into autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. These findings underscore the translational potential of CIK therapy, highlight evolving combination strategies, and reveal opportunities to optimize patient stratification, standardize cell preparation, and incorporate biomarker-guided approaches. Collectively, this landscape analysis highlights key trends shaping the future clinical development of CIK-based immunotherapy and informs strategic design considerations for advancing its integration into modern oncology and immunomodulatory treatments.