Cell Therapy Enhances Survival Rates for Colorectal Cancer Patients, New Study Reveals

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related death globally and is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in the United States. It arises in the colon or rectum, which are integral parts of the large intestine. Notably, recent trends show an increase in CRC-related deaths among individuals under 55 in the U.S., emphasizing the urgent need for more effective treatment strategies.

A groundbreaking study published in The Journal of Immunology sheds light on the promising role of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy in improving patient outcomes. This innovative treatment leverages the patient's own immune cells to specifically target and eradicate cancer cells. The research demonstrates that combining CIK cell therapy with conventional methods like chemotherapy and surgery results in enhanced overall survival and progression-free survival, irrespective of whether patients are in early or advanced stages of the disease.

Dr. Yi Zhang, director of the Biotherapy Center at Zhengzhou University, explained that patients with advanced CRC often face poor prognoses, high recurrence rates, and limited treatment options post-surgery. The addition of CIK cell therapy could significantly boost survival rates among these patients. Importantly, the study also identified biomarkers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), in blood samples. Higher levels of CEA, which are typically associated with poor prognosis and disease recurrence, could predict which patients are more likely to benefit from CIK therapy. This finding paves the way for personalized treatment approaches through simple blood tests before initiating therapy.

The study retrospectively analyzed patients enrolled between 2008 and 2014, following them through January 2020. Researchers evaluated both progression-free survival and overall survival, alongside the investigation of blood biomarkers. The promising results suggest that CIK cell therapy could become a vital component of CRC treatment, especially when combined with existing treatments, and may even influence future clinical guidelines.

Looking ahead, the researchers aim to explore the combined effects of CIK therapy with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other immunotherapies in prospective studies. These efforts could help establish CIK cell therapy as a standard treatment option for CRC and potentially other malignant tumors.

This discovery not only offers hope for improved management of colorectal cancer but also highlights the importance of biomarker-driven personalized medicine. As ongoing research continues to validate these findings, CIK cell therapy may soon become a key player in the fight against this formidable disease.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-cell-therapy-survival-patients-colorectal.html