Efficacy of modified dendritic cell-cytokine-induced killer cells loaded with tumour stem cell membrane microparticle therapy in the treatment of relapsed or refractory T- and NK-cell lymphoid proliferations and lymphomas: a report of three cases.

[UNLABELLED] The prognosis of relapsed or refractory T-cell and NK-cell lymphoid proliferations and lymphomas (R/R T/NK-LPD/LYM) remains poor. Modified dendritic cell–cytokine-induced killer (DC–CIK) cells loaded with tumour stem cell (TSC) membrane microparticles (MMPs) can improve the targeted killing activity against tumours. However, the use of this treatment has not been reported for R/R T/NK-LPD/LYM. Herein, we report 3 cases. Case 1 involved an 8-year-old male who presented with bilateral cervical painless lymphadenopathy and a left elbow mass. Case 2 involved a 44-year-old man with recurrent nasal congestion and a runny nose. Case 3 involved a 49-year-old man whose bilateral cervical, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes were enlarged. The biopsy results revealed T-lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma, not otherwise specified (NOS); extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type; and nodal T follicular helper (TFH) cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic type (nTFHL-AI) for Patients 1, 2, and 3, respectively. All three patients ultimately underwent modified dendritic cell–cytokine-induced killer cell therapy loaded with tumour stem cell membrane microparticles following disease progression, relapse, and chemotherapy-associated complications after first-line therapy and multiple lines of salvage therapy. Following treatment with modified dendritic cell–cytokine-induced killer cells loaded with tumour stem cell membrane microparticles, two of these three patients achieved complete and durable remission, whereas the third patient achieved a partial response, with no treatment-related adverse events reported. At the most recent follow-up, two patients maintained stable disease (SD) with preserved quality of life, while one patient experienced progressive disease (PD) and died because of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome secondary to transplantation-associated colitis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of modified dendritic cell–cytokine-induced killer cells loaded with tumour stem cell membrane microparticles for the treatment of R/R T/NK-LPD/LYM. Our findings warrant further evaluation of this novel targeted immunotherapy in future prospective clinical trials.

[SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION] The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00277-026-06965-7.