IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR VULVAR CARCINOMA WITH VIRUS-MODIFIED HOMOLOGOUS EXTRACTS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 62  (6) , 707-714
Abstract
A membrane-enriched extract of a [influenza A] virus-infected vulvar carcinoma cell line was evaluated as adjunctive immunotherapy in 16 patients who had vulvar carcinoma with lymph node metastases. Thirteen patients also received adjunctive radiation therapy based on individually assessed risk factors. Two patients developed progressive disease. The median disease-free survival for the group was 26+ mo., as compared with 9 mo. for a historical group that had undergone surgery alone and 16 mo. for a 2nd group that had received surgery and adjunctive radiation therapy. The median disease-free survival of the immmunotherapy group was longer than that of either of the 2 historical groups. Over 400 doses of extract, each equivalent to 1.5 mg protein, were administered without significant side effects. Evidence is presented for humoral and cellular augmented immune reactivity. This approach should be evaluated further to determine its efficacy in preventing recurrence in selected high-risk patients who have vulvar carcinoma.

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