Abstract: Background and purpose: Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) has both the advantages of T lymphocytes’ powerful anti-tumor activity and NK cells’ tumor killing capacity without MHC restriction. It could directly kill tumor cells, regulate and enhance immune function, without damaging the structure and functions of the immune system. Its effects on the treatment of malignant solid tumors has been widely recognized. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-proliferation effects of CIK cells obtained and cultivated from lung cancer patients’ lymph nodes. Meanwhile, the safety of clinical transfusion was observed. Methods: The peripheral blood and lymph nodes of 6 surgery patients with lung cancer from Shanghai Chest Hospital were used to cultivate CIK cells for 14 days. The phenotypes of CIK cells were detected by flow cytometry. The anti-proliferation activities of CIK cells on A549 lung cancer cells were detected by CCK8 assay. The morphological changes of CIK cells were observed by invert microscope. The expression of CEA level and adverse events were evaluated after CIK transfusion. Results: The proportion of CD3⁺CD56⁺T lymphocyte in two groups were both more than 30%. The CCK8 assay showed that the suppression rate of lymph nodes group was higher than that of peripheral blood group at each effect/target ratio(P<0.05). The adverse effect of CIK transfusion was mild and tolerable. The expression of CEA level decreased in patients. Conclusion: Lymph nodes of surgery patients with lung cancer can be used for cultivation of CIK cells. The anti-tumor activity of CIK isolated from lymph nodes is better than that of CIK cells cultivated from peripheral blood. Preclinical experiments showed high safety.

Key words: Lung cancer, Lymph nodes, Immunotherapy