Concurrent Chemoradiation With or Without DC-CIK Immunotherapy in Treating Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Concurrent Chemoradiation With or Without DC-CIK Immunotherapy in Treating Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

The purpose of this study is to show if the adoptive cellular therapy with autologous dendritic cells and cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) combined with concurrent chemoradiation could improve the quality of life of the patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer, compared with concurrent chemoradiation only.

Inclusion Criteria:

• cytologically or histologically confirmed locally advanced esophageal carcinoma
• Age: > 18
• Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70
• At least one measurable tumor lesions according to the RECIST criteria.
• Normal functions of heart, lung, liver, kidney and bone marrow
• Blood exams qualified for chemotherapy, which included hemoglobulin ≥9 g/dl, neutrophil ≥1.5×109/L and platelet (PLT) ≥100×109/L, creatinine ≤1.5 UNL
• Informed consent signed

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with metastatic disease in the central nervous system (CNS).
• Patients who are pregnant or nursing.
• Patients with poor bone marrow, liver and kidney functions, which would make chemotherapy intolerable
• Patients with contraindication for irradiation: complete obstruction of esophagus, deep esophageal ulcer, fistula to mediastinum, or haematemesis
• coexisted morbidities that investigators believed not suitable for chemoradiation