Sequential Autologous CIK/NK Cells Combined with Chemotherapy to Induce Long-Term Tumor Control in Advanced Rectal Cancer: A Case Report.

Objective: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most common malignancy. In addition to comprehensive cancer treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the adoptive immune cell therapy (ACT) has played an increasingly important role in recent years, and the adaptive transfusion of autologous NK cells and CIK cells is a brand-new approach to cellular therapy for solid tumors.

Case presentation: A 57-year-old man underwent a radical resection of microsatellite stable (MSS) rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastases. After surgery of the primary lesion surgery, he was treated with autologous CIK/NK cells combined with XELOX translational therapy. Each cycle can obtain over 10 × 10⁹ CIK cells or over 6 × 10⁹ NK cells combined chemotherapy of XELOX every 3 weeks. After 2 cycles of therapy, he achieved partial response (PR). He immediately underwent a hepatic metastasis resection. After surgery, the patient continued to receive autologous CIK/NK cells in combined with 4 cycles of XELOX. To date, he has achieved and maintained no evidence of disease (NED) for over 40 months.

Conclusion: This is a case of successful treatment of rectal cancer with liver metastasis using ACT in conjunction with first-line chemotherapy. The advantage of this treatment plan is that it has few side effects and achieves long-term control of tumor recurrence by improving the patient's immune function. However, its responsiveness and benefit rate still need further investigation.