Adoptive Cell Therapy of Melanoma with Cytokine-induced Killer Cells.

Abstract

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer and its incidence is gradually increasing worldwide. Patients with metastatic melanoma have a very poor prognosis (estimated 5-year survival rate of <16%). In the last few years, several drugs have been approved for malignant melanoma, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint blockades. Although new therapeutic agents have improved progression-free and overall survival, their use is limited by drug resistance and drug-related toxicity. At the same time, adoptive cell therapy of metastatic melanoma with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has shown promising results in preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we summarize the currently available drugs for treatment of malignant melanoma. In addition, we suggest cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells as another candidate approach for adoptive cell therapy of melanoma. Our preclinical study and several previous studies have shown that CIK cells have potent anti-tumor activity against melanomas in vitro and in an in vivo human tumor xenograft model without any toxicity.

• Authors: Ji Sung Kim, Yong Guk Kim, Minji Pyo, Hong Kyung Lee, Jin Tae Hong, Youngsoo Kim, Sang-Bae Han
• Journal: Immune network (Immune Netw) Vol. 15 Issue 2 Pg. 58-65 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1598-2629 [Print] Korea (South)
• PMID: 25922594 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)