Photodynamic therapy combined with cell therapies for advanced esophageal cancer / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and immunological effects of photodynamic therapy combined with cell therapies for advanced esophageal cancer. Methods Ninety patients with advanced esophageal cancer were collected and divided into three groups by a non-randomized controlled trial according to treatment intention. Group A (30 patients) received photodynamic therapy (PDT) alone; group B (30 patients), PDT received PDT plus cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapies; and group C (30 patients) received CIK cell therapy aloen. In all the patients, the efficacy was assessed, the quality of life was documented, the immune function was detected, and the 6-month and 1-year death tolls were counted. Results The total clinical effectiveness rate was much higher in groups B and A than in group C (90.0% and 86.7% vs. 63.3%, P 0.05). The rate of an increase in quality of life was significantly higher in group B than in groups A and C (86.7%vs. 60.0%and 33.3%, P 0.05), while the 1-year survival rate was much higher in group B than in groups A and C (73.9% vs. 55.6% and 29.4%, P < 0.05). Conclusion Photodynamic therapy combined with cell therapies has a synergistic effect, and it enhances the overall immune function, significantly improves the quality of life and prolongs the survival period, showing a better clinical prospect.