CSPG4-CAR.CIK effectively eliminated melanoma cells, displaying a significantly higher cytotoxic activity compared to unmodified CIK and control CD19-CAR.CIK, especially at low E/T ratios (percentage of tumor specific lysis at E/T = 1/4 for CSPG-CAR.CIK: 66 ± 15% vs unmodified CIK: 22 ± 20%; percentage of tumor specific lysis at E/T = 1/8 for CSPG-CAR.CIK: 46 ± 7% vs unmodified CIK: 9 ± 6%). The gene discussed is CD19; the disease is melanoma.