The experimental study on the treatment of cytokine-induced killer cells combined with EGFR monoclonal antibody against gastric cancer.

Aims: To investigate the antitumor activity of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells combined with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody (mAb) against gastric cancer cell line SGC7901.

Materials And Methods: Immunocytochemistry assay was performed to detect the expression of EGFR in SGC7901 cell lines. The cytotoxicity activity of CIK cells combined with EGFR mAb was analyzed by the (51)Cr release assay. Then, the comparison of the cytotoxicity activity between CIK cells combined with EGFR mAb and CIK cells combined with CD3 mAb and CIK cells was conducted. Antitumor activity of CIK cells combined with EGFR mAb in vivo was analyzed by tumor growth assay and tumor reduction assay.

Results: The cell lysis rate of CIK cells combined with EGFR mAb was higher than those of CIK cells combined with CD3 mAb and CIK cells only (p<0.05). The lysis rates of the latter two groups were not different. The antitumor activity of CIK cells combined with EGFR mAb was higher than those of other groups in vivo (p<0.05).

Conclusion: It was suggested in the current study that EGFR mAb could enhance the antitumor ability of CIK cells to bind and kill the gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.