ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Sunitinib/sorafenib (SU/SO), dendritic cells (DCs), or DC-cytokine-induced killer (CIK) could significantly prolong progression-free survival (PFS), 3-year overall survival (OS), or 5-year OS for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). We retrospectively analyzed the clinical efficacy between SU/SO combined with DC-CIK and SU/SO monotherapy in treating renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients with metastasis after radical nephrectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients (n = 34) with postoperative mRCC in our hospital from January 2009 to January 2014 were received either SU/SO monotherapy (Group 1, n = 15) or in combination with DC-CIK (Group 2, n = 19). A retrospective study was based on the primary endpoint (PFS) and secondary endpoint (OS). RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 19.5 months, in Group 2, as compared with in Group 1, the median PFS was significantly longer (28.0 vs. 11.0 months, P = 0.03). Moreover, the 3-year OS was higher (57.1% vs. 28.6%). The cases of progressive diseases (PDs) and deaths were less in Group 2 than that in Group 1 (PD: 8 vs. 9, deaths: 3 vs. 5); however, the cases of stable diseases were more (11 vs. 6). In addition, the 3-year OS was higher in SU + DC-CIK group than that in SO + DC-CIK group (63.36% vs. 50%). There was no significant difference for PFS between SO + DC-CIK group and SU single agent group. CONCLUSIONS: SU/SO with DC-CIK could significantly prolong the median PFS, improve the 3-year OS rate, prolong the 3-year OS. It is likely to be a new approach for mRCC after radical nephrectomy.