Objective: To observe the safety and efficacy of cytokine-induced kill(CIK) cells combined with cisplatin and traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) in treating patients with malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Method: A prospective randomised single-blind study was performed

seventy-three MPE patients who meet the inclusion criteria were divided into the experimental group and the control group. Patients in both groups received conventional central venous catheter drainage for pleural effusion. Thirty-six patients in experimental group received thoracic perfusion with cisplatin and 2 weeks later added CIK cellsonce daily for 3 days.Thirty-seven patients received thoracic perfusion with cisplatin alone.Patients in both groups took orally Wenfei Huayin recipe for 4 weeks.The disease control rate (DCR)of MPE

symptoms score and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score were evaluated after the treatment.T lymphocyte subsets was analysised and adverse reactions were carefully monitored before and after the treatment. Result: The DCR of MPE was 95.0% in the experimental group and that incontrol group were 82.0% with statistically significant differences(P<0.05). Scoresof symptoms and KPS in experimental group were superior to that in control group(P<0.05).The CD3+T

CD4+T

CD8+T and NK lymphocytesinboth groupsshowed an increase after the treatment

and there was statistically significant differences for CD3+T and NK lymphocytesin experimental group (P<0.05).Less adverse reactions were found in experimental group than that in control group. Conclusion: Thoracic perfusion with CIK cells combined with cisplatin and TCM canreduce watery phlegm

increase scores of symptoms and KPS

boost the immune systemand improve the quality of life in MPE patients. Meanwhile

it has good safty and few adverse reactions. Therefore

it is worthy to be applied widely in clinic.