Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the eligible studies.
| Study | Study period | Country | Study design | No. of patients (male/female) | Median follow-up | Clinical stage | Previous treatment | CIKs per cycle | Method of infusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takamaya 2000 | 1992-1995 | Japan | RCT | 150(NA) | 4.4 years | TNM I/II/IIIA/IVA | resection | 7.1×1010 | 5 infusion IV |
| Weng 2008 | 2002-2004 | CHN | RCT | 85(60/25) | NA | TNM I/II/IIIIA | TACE+RFA | 1.0-1.5×1010 | 8-10 infusions via hepatic arteries |
| Hui 2009 | 2000-2002 | CHN | RCT | 127(97/30) | 5-7 years | NA | resection | 1-2×1010 | 3 or 6 infusions (1 per 2 weeks) IV |
| Hao 2010 | 2005-2008 | CHN | quasi-RCT | 146(129/17) | NA | BCLC A/B/C | TACE | 1-5×1010 | 1-3 infusions (4 per 1 month) IV |
| Qiu 2011 | NA | CHN | RCT | 18(15/3) | 16.8 months | TNM III | Surgery +radio/chemo-therapy | 0.2-2×1010 | 2-7 infusions (1 per week) |
| †Wang 2012 | 2004-2006 | CHN | quasi-RCT | 76(66/10) | 44(10-88) months | TNM I/II | TACE+RFA | 1.0-1.5×1010 | 6-12 infusions (1 per 2 weeks) IV or via hepatic arteries |
| †Xu 2013 | 2008-2011 | CHN | RCT | 80(65/15) | 6-36 months | TNM III | TACE+PMCT | DCs=1-1.2×108 CIKs=γδ T cells=0.3-1.0×1010 | 2 cycles,1 cycle per month IV and local tumor injection |
| Yu 2014 | 2004-2009 | CHN | RCT | 132(116/16) | 18.6 months | BCLC A/B/C | resection /TACE /Support | 1.01×1010 (0.72-1.21 ×1010) | 2–36 cycles (1 per 1 month) |
| †Zhang 2014 | 2008-2012 | CHN | RCT | 85(NA) | NA | TNM I/II | TACE+RFA | DCs=CIKs =1.0×1010 | 6 courses IV and local tumor injection |
| Cui 2014 | 2010-2011 | CHN | quasi-RCT | 62(47/15) | 12 months | BCLC A/B/C | RFA | 1.2-2.0×109 (NK, CIK and γδ T cell) | 3 or 6 courses (8 infusions per course) IV |
| Lee 2015 | 2008-2012 | KOR | RCT | 226(186/40) | 36.5-40 months | I/II‡ | resection/RFA /PEI | (6.4±2.1)×109 | 16 infusions IV |
| Xu 2016 | 2008-2013 | CHN | RCT | 200(100/100) | 38.2(3.7-73) months | T1/T2/T3a⊕ | resection | 1.0-1.5×1010 | 4 cycles IV |
Abbreviations: 5-FU:5-fluoro-2,4(1h, 3h) pyrimidinedione; ADM: Doxorubicin Hydrochloride; CHN: country of China; CIK: cytokine induced killer (cell); DC: dendritic cell; DDP: cisplatin; EPI: epirubicin; FUDR: floxuridine; GEM: gemcitabine; HCPT: hydroxycamptothecin; IC: intracutaneous injection; IV: intravenous injection; KOR: country of Korea; MMC: mitomycin; NA: not available; NS: normal saline; OXA: oxaliplatin; PEI: percutaneous ethanol injection; PMCT: percutaneous microwave coagulation therapy; quasi-RCT: quasi-randomized controlled trial; RCT: randomized controlled trial; RFA: radiofrequency ablation; TACE: transcatheter arterial chemoembolization; THP: pirarubicin; UFL: ultra fluid lipiodol.
†articles published in Chinese; ‡: Stage based on American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system (6th edition); ⊕: Stage based on American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system (7th edition).