[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-353330-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-353330-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","clinical-application-of-cytokine-induced-killer-cells-in-cancer-immunotherapy","Clinical application of cytokine-induced killer cells in cancer immunotherapy","","Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells demonstrate strong antitumor activity with reduced reliance on strict MHC compatibility, combining T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent recognition and NK-like, MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity. This narrative review integrates evidence from 48 clinical trial studies and evaluates approaches to enhance CIK performance, including cellular engineering, checkpoint inhibitor combinations, and co-administration with dendritic cells. CIK therapy reduces posttreatment recurrence in the adjuvant setting, improves chemotherapy outcomes in advanced disease, and advances survival measures across multiple cancers. Challenges are analyzed, including tumor microenvironment immunosuppression, limited in vivo durability, product variability, and treatment selection. Future translation focuses on standardized manufacturing, biomarker-guided algorithms, and validation of next-generation engineered CIK products.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/clinical-application-of-cytokine-induced-killer-cells-in-cancer-immunotherapy/353330/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/clinical-application-of-cytokine-induced-killer-cells-in-cancer-immunotherapy/353330.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"nayy☆","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Why do CIK cells require less strict MHC compatibility than some other immune therapies?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"CIK cells mediate tumor killing through both TCR-dependent recognition and NK-like, MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity, reducing dependence on strict MHC compatibility.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Which strategies are reviewed to enhance CIK cell function?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The review covers engineering approaches, combination with checkpoint inhibitors, and co-administration with dendritic cells, aiming to improve potency, durability, and tumor microenvironment resistance.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What clinical benefits does CIK therapy show according to the review?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"CIK therapy is reported to reduce posttreatment recurrence in the adjuvant setting and to improve chemotherapy outcomes in advanced disease, with improved survival metrics across multiple cancers.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},353330,1790498804,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":140,"language":141,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":142,"faqs":143,"seo_title":144,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":145,"read_time":146},962090893153,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_9964176cb1d06d4a9deccf72a44ae3dc","Ghorbani etal. Cancer Cell International (2026) 26:279 Cancer Cell International  \n[https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-026-04318-y](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-026-04318-y)  \nREVIEW Open Access  \nClinical application of cytokine-induced killer  cells in cancer immunotherapy  \nFarzaneh Ghorbani1†, Hossein Abbaszadeh1†, Yahya Yahyavi1,2, Mehdi Talebi3 and Karim Shamsasenajn1*  \nAbstract  \nCytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells exhibit potent antitumor activity with reduced dependence on strict MHC compatibility, mediated by a combination ofT-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent recognition and natural killer  \n(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 posttreatment 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.  \nKeywords CIK cells, Cancer immunotherapy, Adoptive cell therapy, Combination therapy, Clinical trials  \nIntroduction  \nCancer immunotherapy has transformed modern oncology, offering a way to precisely and persistently attack tumors by harnessing the body’s immune defenses [1]. Within adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), cytokineinduced killer (CIK) cells stand out because they merge the tumor-killing capabilities of T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, exhibiting antitumor activity that does not  \n†Farzaneh Ghorbani and Hossein Abbaszadeh contributed equally to this paper.  \n*Correspondence: Karim Shamsasenajn [shamsk@tbzmed.ac.ir](shamsk@tbzmed.ac.ir)  \n1Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 2Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran 3Department of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran  \nrequire strict human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching and reflects both T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent adaptive recognition and NK-like, less HLA-restricted cytotoxic mechanisms [2, 3]. This major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted killing, combined with their excellent safety profile characterized by minimal toxicity, carves out a distinct and clinically valuable niche for CIK cells in the competitive landscape of ACTs, which includes complex and toxic options such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) [4, 5]. CIK cells are ex vivo-expanded peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) activated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), anti-CD3 antibodies, and interleukin-2 (IL-2), resulting in a heterogeneous population of CD3 + CD56+ effector cells that can kill tumor cells through perforin/granzyme-mediated cytotoxicity and death receptor pathways [6].  \nPreclinical research has demonstrated that CIK cells can effectively target a wide range of cancers, paving  \n© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link t","cbCaisA5D1MnY9QY","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaisA5D1MnY9QY","pdf",2533119,29,"English","# Introduction\n## Mechanistic basis for CIK cells in adoptive immunotherapy\n## Preclinical evidence and safety in early trials\n## Clinical strategies to enhance CIK efficacy\n## Key challenges and future translation","[{\"question\":\"Why do CIK cells require less strict MHC compatibility than some other immune therapies?\",\"answer\":\"CIK cells mediate tumor killing through both TCR-dependent recognition and NK-like, MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity, reducing dependence on strict MHC compatibility.\"},{\"question\":\"Which strategies are reviewed to enhance CIK cell function?\",\"answer\":\"The review covers engineering approaches, combination with checkpoint inhibitors, and co-administration with dendritic cells, aiming to improve potency, durability, and tumor microenvironment resistance.\"},{\"question\":\"What clinical benefits does CIK therapy show according to the review?\",\"answer\":\"CIK therapy is reported to reduce posttreatment recurrence in the adjuvant setting and to improve chemotherapy outcomes in advanced disease, with improved survival metrics across multiple cancers.\"}]","Clinical application of cytokine-induced killer cells in cancer immunotherapy | PDF",1790104769,73]