Evaluating CIK cells to improve outcomes in high-risk NHL post-transplant
Min G-J, Kim N, Im K-I, et al. Cytokine-Induced Killer Cell Therapy as a Postremission Strategy in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Prospective Investigator-Initiated Clinical Study. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. 2026; (doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2026.01.001).
Investigators believe cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell infusion, administered after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), may represent a viable postremission regimen for patients with high-risk non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Complete remission is achievable with upfront or salvage therapy, while high-dose chemotherapy and ASCT provide added benefits along with significant risks. Specifically, relapse and/or opportunistic infections may occur due to minimal residual disease (MRD) that persists despite pre-transplantation conditioning protocols. Researchers examined whether CIK cells, known for exhibiting robust anti-tumor activity with minimal toxicity, could prevent MRD and promote immune recovery, thus improving progression-free survival (PFS). They report that CIK cell infusion improved functionality of engrafted T-cell subsets during immune reconstitution shortly after ASCT, during a low-tumor burden environment. Among 20 high-risk patients with NHL in complete remission who received early post-ASCT CIK cell-infusion administration, 79.8% achieved the primary outcome of median 2-year PFS and did so without uncontrolled cytomegalovirus DNAemia or infections.