Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, successes and challenges: report on the first international conference dedicated to the clinical translation of this unique adoptive cell immunotherapy

Amit Sharma; Xiubao Ren; Antonio Rosato; Dario Sangiolo; Zibing Wang; Sarah Tettamanti; Yi Zhang; Eva Rettinger; Kevin Aaron Fenix; Roberta Sommaggio; Elisa Cappuzzello; Ingo G H Schmidt-Wolf

doi:10.1007/s00262-023-03605-1

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells, successes and challenges: report on the first international conference dedicated to the clinical translation of this unique adoptive cell immunotherapy

Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2024 Jan 27;73(2):21. doi: 10.1007/s00262-023-03605-1.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
² Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.
³ Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
⁴ Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
⁵ Immunotherapy Department, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
⁶ Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Monza, Italy.
⁷ Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
⁸ Frankfurt Cancer Institute (FCI), Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
⁹ Discipline of Surgery, Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
¹⁰ Immunology and Molecular Oncology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, Padua, Italy.
¹¹ Department of Integrated Oncology, Center for Integrated Oncology (CIO) Bonn, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany. ingo.schmidt-wolf@ukbonn.de.

Abstract

On August 30, 2023, experts from Germany and abroad met to discuss the successes and challenges of cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) therapy, that recently celebrated its 30th anniversary providing treatment for cancer. This first virtual conference was hosted by CIO Bonn, a certified Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) funded by German Cancer Aid (DKH). In addition to keynote speakers involved in CIK cell clinical trials or optimized preclinical models to improve this adoptive cell immunotherapy, more than 100 attendees from around the world also participated in this event. Initiatives to establish the International Society of CIK Cells (ISCC) and a stronger CIK cell network guiding preclinical research and future clinical trials were also announced.

Keywords: Cancer; Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy; Immunotherapies.

MeSH terms

Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells*
Cytokines
Germany
Humans
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy, Adoptive
Neoplasms* / therapy

Substances

Cytokines