[Value of CIK in the treatment of TACE combined with RFA for HCC in long-term survival and prognostic analysis].
To assess the long-term efficacy and investigate the prognostic factors of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) combined with the sequential transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A total of 95 HCC patients with the informed consents received TACE combined with RFA, 48 cases of which accepted the CIK via intravenous drop infusion for more than 6 times (study group) while the other 47 cases were enrolled in control group. The following-up duration was more than 3 years. Primary endpoint was the overall survival (OS) and the secondary endpoint was the disease-free survival (DFS). 76 patients in all (38 in study group, 38 in control group) complied with the study and follow-up (44 months in median, 10-88 months). No mortality and serve complications were observed in both groups. The ratio for patients with DFS over 1-year, 3-year and 5-year were 79%, 26% and 16% (28 months in median and 32.3 months in mean) while 71%, 21% and 8% (22 months in median and 23.1 months in mean) for the control group. There was significant difference between the two groups (P=0.001). For the OS, the ratio for 1-year, 3-year and 5-year in the study group were 92%, 53% and 26% (38 months in median and 42.5 in mean) and 89%, 42% and 24% (35 months in median and 37 in mean). No significant difference was observed in both groups. ECOG performance status, Hepatitis B virus infection and treatment were the prognostic factors for DFS while ECOG performance status was the only prognosis for OS. CIK infusion basing on the TACE combined with RFA can control the recurrence of HCC, decrease the times of TACE or RFA.