Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42243936›Full record

ReviewCancer cell international2026

Clinical application of cytokine-induced killer cells in cancer immunotherapy.

Farzaneh Ghorbani, Hossein Abbaszadeh, Yahya Yahyavi, Mehdi Talebi, Karim Shamsasenajn

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancer cell international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Farzaneh Ghorbani *Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-0209-3876
Hossein Abbaszadeh *Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6284-0855
Yahya YahyaviDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9169-8245
Mehdi TalebiDepartment of Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3633-2280
Karim ShamsasenajnDepartment of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. shamsk@tbzmed.ac.ir.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8091-857X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells exhibit potent antitumor activity with reduced dependence on strict MHC compatibility, mediated by a combination of T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent recognition and natural killer (NK)-like, MHC-unrestricted cytotoxicity. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from clinical trial evaluations, including 48 published studies. We examine strategies to enhance CIK function, such as engineering, combination with checkpoint inhibitors, and co-administration with dendritic cells. CIK cell therapy effectively reduces post-treatment recurrence in the adjuvant setting and enhances chemotherapy outcomes in advanced disease, significantly improving key survival metrics across multiple cancers. A detailed analysis is conducted of ongoing challenges, such as immunosuppressive conditions in tumor microenvironments, limited in vivo durability, product variability, and choosing the best treatment plans. Future advancements in translation depend on establishing standardized manufacturing procedures, developing treatment algorithms guided by precision biomarkers, and validating next-generation engineered CIK cell products in clinical settings.

Indexed as

Adoptive cell therapyCancer immunotherapyCIK cellsClinical trialsCombination therapy

Identifiers

PMID42243936
PMCPMC13455211

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.