Treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma with combined thymic peptide-enhanced autologous cytokine induced killer cells and IL-2 in aged patients

Objective To assess the efficiency and safety of combined thymic peptide-enhanced autologous cytokine induced killer（CIK） cells and IL-2 in treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma in aged patients. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells（PBMC） were collected from 4 aged patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.CIK cells were induced with in vitro interferon gamma（IFN-γ）,IL-2 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody（mAb）.Immune function of the cells and tumor-related biological indexes of the patients were observed after 2×10⁹-3×10⁹ autologous CIK cells were re-transfused into the patients each time and IL-2 100mU/d was subcutaneously injected for 10 days,28 days a cycle for 24 cycles. Results Two patients received 8 cycles of CIK cells transfusion and 2 patients received 4 cycles of CIK cells transfusion.No adverse reaction occurred in them.The number of CD3⁺,CD3⁺CD8⁺ and CD3³⁺CD56⁺ was significantly greater and the serum β2-microglobulin level was markedly lower after CIK cells transfusion than before CIK cells transfusion（P＜0.05）.Complete remission was achieved in 3 patients and 1 patient died of acute large-area myocardial infarction and persistent progression of lymphoma although partial remission was achieved after 8 cycles of CIK cells transfusion. Conclusion Combined autologous CIK cells transfusion and IL-2 is safe and effective for large B cell lymphoma in aged patients.