Objective      To determine the effect of continuous infusion of autologous cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK) on the immunological function in the patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma

and investigate the efficiency in the prevention of tumor recurrence after surgery.       Methods      Full clinical data of 54 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Southwest Hospital from September 2012 to September 2014 were collected in the study. They were divided into 2 groups

treatment group (receiving CIK treatment after operation for 2 courses

n=27) and control group (receiving conventional therapy

n=27). Sixteen healthy individuals taking physical examination meanwhile served as normal control. All cases were followed up

and flow cytometry was used to detect the percentages of T lymphocyte subsets and dendritic cell subsets before and after continuous infusion. The recurrence was compared between the treatment group and control group in 1 year after treatment.       Results      Peripheral blood CD8＋/CD4＋and DC1/DC2 were significantly lower in the patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma before CIK treatment than the normal control (P0.05). After continuous infusion

the CD8＋ percentage and DC1/DC2 ratio were significantly increased in the treatment group than before (P0.05). The treatment group had obviously lower recurrence than the control group (11.1% vs 33.3%

P0.05)

and lower mortality though without statistical difference (11.1% vs 18.5%

P0.05). No obvious adverse reaction was observed in the treatment group.       Conclusion      The immune functions of primary hepatocellular carcinoma patients are declined. CIK infusion improves their immune functions and decrease cancer recurrence.