Cell therapy · Immune cells
Immune cell therapy,
without the hype.
NK, CIK, DC-CIK and CAPRI cells as oncology adjuncts and immune support — plus NMPA-approved CAR-T for blood cancers. Delivered as registered clinical research at Class A hospitals, graded honestly. We’ll tell you when the evidence supports it and when it doesn’t.
5 families
Immune-cell approaches
NK · CIK · DC-CIK · CAPRI · CAR-T
Clinical practice
4+
NMPA-approved CAR-T
For B-cell lymphoma, ALL, myeloma
NMPA, 2024
Adjunct
NK / CIK / DC-CIK role
Registered research, not stand-alone cures
NHC framework
$12–35k
Adjunct course all-in
Multi-infusion, ex CAR-T
Industry data
<1%
Serious AE (autologous)
For NK / CIK / DC-CIK adjuncts
Trial data
Class A
All partner facilities
NMPA-licensed GMP cellular labs
NHC / NMPA
What it is
Your own defence cells,
expanded and re-armed.
Immune cell therapy takes the white cells from your blood, expands and activates them in a GMP lab, then returns them so they can recognise and clear abnormal cells more effectively. Think of dendritic cells as the immune system’s radar and CIK or NK cells as the missiles — DC-CIK pairs them so the attack is better aimed.
This is where honesty matters most. CAR-T is genuinely transformative for specific blood cancers and NMPA-approved. NK / CIK / DC-CIK / CAPRI are useful adjuncts — they can improve survival when added to standard cancer treatment in some tumours — but they are not stand-alone cures, and they are delivered in China as registered clinical research, not over-the-counter products.
We deliberately reject the marketing framing common in this field. If your case is one where immune-cell adjuncts have real evidence, we’ll route you to a Class A hospital running a registered protocol. If it isn’t, we’ll tell you. See the companion NK-cell deep dive and the CAR-T guide.
The families
Five immune-cell approaches.
NK cells 自然杀伤细胞
The body's first responders — kill tumour and virus-infected cells without prior sensitisation. Low immunogenicity allows allogeneic use. Adjunct in oncology supportive care and immune support.
$12–30k
CIK cells
Cytokine-induced killer cells — rapidly proliferating, broad-spectrum cytotoxicity, low toxicity to normal marrow. Activity not blunted by common immunosuppressants. Adjunct in solid-tumour protocols.
$12–28k
DC-CIK
Dendritic cells (the 'radar' that presents antigen) co-cultured with CIK cells (the 'missiles'). The pairing matures DCs and sharpens CIK targeting. The most-studied adjunct combination in Chinese oncology trials.
$15–30k
CAPRI cells
Cascade-primed immune cells — a patented priming method (international patents incl. WO02/087612) developed at LMU Munich. Individualised activity, favourable safety, studied as an adjunct in several solid tumours.
$15–35k
CAR-T
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells — four-plus NMPA-approved products for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma, ALL and multiple myeloma. Transformative but with significant managed risks.
$60–140k
Immune-cell banking
Cryopreserve healthy, younger immune cells now for potential future use — cells are most potent when you're young. See our stem-cell & immune-cell banking guide.
Storage
Where the evidence sits
Honestly graded by indication.
Relapsed/refractory blood cancers
CAR-T (NMPA-approved) for B-cell lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and multiple myeloma — durable remissions in patients who failed standard therapy.
Gastric & colorectal cancer
DC-CIK / CIK added to chemotherapy or surgery improved progression-free and overall survival in several Chinese randomised trials. Adjunct, not stand-alone.
Hepatocellular & lung cancer
CIK / DC-CIK adjuncts after curative-intent treatment reduced recurrence and extended survival in selected trials. Used alongside standard oncology.
Post-treatment immune support
NK / CIK infusions to support immune recovery after chemotherapy or surgery in selected oncology patients, under physician supervision.
Chronic viral infection
NK and CIK cells have antiviral activity; investigational adjunct use in chronic viral conditions — evidence is early and trial-stage.
Healthy-person 'immune boosting'
We are explicit: infusing immune cells into healthy people for anti-ageing or cancer prevention is not backed by high-quality evidence. We decline these requests.
Evidence grades reflect aggregate quality of randomised trials and systematic reviews as of 2024. NMPA-approved immune-cell indication: blood cancers via CAR-T. NK / CIK / DC-CIK / CAPRI are adjuncts delivered as registered clinical research — meaningful in selected oncology settings, not cures, and not validated for healthy-person “immune boosting”.
From blood to infusion
How a course is made.
Blood collection
Peripheral blood is drawn to isolate mononuclear cells (PBMC) — the source population for NK, CIK, DC-CIK and CAPRI cells. For CAR-T, T-cells are collected by apheresis.
Induction & expansion
Cells are cultured with defined cytokines (e.g. IL-2, IFN-γ, anti-CD3) in a GMP lab to expand cell number and activate cytotoxic function — typically 1–3 weeks depending on protocol.
Quality release testing
Each batch undergoes release testing: viability, immunophenotype (e.g. CD3+/CD56+ for CIK), sterility, endotoxin and identity. Only batches that pass are released for infusion.
Infusion course
Cells are re-infused intravenously, usually as a multi-infusion course over days to weeks, with monitoring for transient fever or chills. CAR-T is managed inpatient for cytokine-release syndrome.
Monitoring & follow-up
Response is tracked with imaging and labs; immune-cell phenotype may be re-checked. Telehealth follow-up with the operating physician and bilingual records throughout.
FAQ
Immune cell therapy, answered.
- What is immune cell therapy?
- Immune cell therapy (adoptive cell therapy) collects a patient's own immune cells from peripheral blood — the white cells called peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) — expands and activates them in a GMP lab, then re-infuses them so they can recognise and clear abnormal, infected or cancerous cells more effectively. The main families used in China are NK cells, CIK cells, DC-CIK combinations, CAPRI cells, and the NMPA-approved drug class CAR-T.
- What are NK, CIK, DC-CIK and CAPRI cells?
- NK (natural killer) cells are the innate immune system's first responders — they kill tumour and virus-infected cells without prior sensitisation. CIK (cytokine-induced killer) cells are lab-expanded T/NK-like cells with broad anti-tumour activity. DC-CIK pairs dendritic cells (the immune system's 'radar' that presents antigens) with CIK cells (the 'missiles') so the response is more targeted. CAPRI (cascade-primed immune cells) is a patented method that primes immune cells in a cascade for individualised activity. They differ in mechanism, targeting and the evidence behind them.
- Is immune cell therapy approved and legal in China?
- Two tracks, and the distinction matters. CAR-T is an NMPA-approved drug class — four-plus products are approved for B-cell lymphoma, ALL and multiple myeloma. NK / CIK / DC-CIK / CAPRI are NOT marketed drugs; after regulatory reform, they are delivered only as filed clinical research (备案) at qualified Class A hospitals, as adjuncts — not as commercial 'cures'. Any clinic offering them as over-the-counter treatment outside this framework is operating illegitimately. Panda Touring Care only uses NMPA-licensed Class A facilities with registered protocols.
- Does immune cell therapy actually work, and for what?
- Honest grading. CAR-T: strong, transformative evidence in specific relapsed/refractory blood cancers. DC-CIK / CIK as adjuncts: moderate evidence of improved progression-free or overall survival when added to standard chemo/surgery in some solid tumours (e.g. gastric, hepatocellular, lung, breast trials) — meaningful but not curative on their own. NK cells: promising adjunct in oncology supportive care. Broad claims of anti-ageing, cancer prevention in healthy people, or 'boosting immunity' are NOT supported by high-quality evidence. We tell candidates which bucket their case falls in.
- How much does immune cell therapy cost in China?
- All-in courses including coordinator and on-site stay: NK-cell $12,000–$30,000; CIK / DC-CIK $12,000–$28,000; CAPRI $15,000–$35,000; CAR-T $60,000–$140,000 (vs $400,000+ in the US). Most adjunct immune-cell protocols run as multi-infusion courses. Pricing varies by hospital, cell count and number of infusions — request itemized quotes.
- Is immune cell therapy safe?
- For autologous adjunct cells (NK / CIK / DC-CIK / CAPRI) the safety profile is favourable — they use the patient's own cells with minimal toxicity to normal marrow; common effects are transient fever or chills around infusion. CAR-T carries more significant risks (cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity) and is managed in specialised inpatient settings. At NMPA-licensed GMP facilities, products undergo release testing for viability, phenotype (e.g. CD3/CD56), sterility and endotoxin before infusion.
- Can foreigners access immune cell therapy in China?
- Yes — through dedicated international departments at Class A hospitals. CAR-T is accessed as an approved drug for eligible blood-cancer patients; NK / CIK / DC-CIK / CAPRI as registered clinical research adjuncts. Panda Touring Care manages eligibility review, M-visa, on-site blood collection, infusion course and follow-up. We screen out cases where the evidence doesn't justify the trip.
Continue exploring
NK-Cell Therapy
The deep dive on natural killer cells — function, ageing, and oncology use.
Read on NK cellsCAR-T Therapy
NMPA-approved CAR-T for relapsed/refractory blood cancers at a third of US cost.
Read on CAR-TExosome Therapy
Cell-free MSC vesicles for inflammatory and degenerative conditions.
Read on exosomesCell Banking
Store immune and stem cells while they're young and most potent.
Read on bankingCancer Treatment in China
How immune-cell adjuncts fit into a full oncology pathway.
See oncologyCell Therapy Hub
The pillar overview across stem cells, immune cells, exosomes and banking.
Back to hubIs immune cell therapy
right for your case?
Submit your records and a senior oncologist will review whether immune-cell adjuncts have real evidence for your diagnosis — and which Class A hospital protocol fits. Straight answers, no upsell.