Thymosin fraction V and intensive combination chemotherapy. Prolonging the survival of patients with small-cell lung cancer

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Abstract
Patients with small-cell bronchogenic carcinoma who received intensive remission-induction chemotherapy randomly received either thymosin fraction V, 60 mg/m2 or 20 mg/m2 twice weekly, or no thymosin treatment during the initial 6 wk of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was then continued for 2 yr. Thymosin administration did not increase the complete response rate. Patients receiving thymosin, 60 mg/m2, had significantly prolonged survival times relative to the other treatment groups. This benefit was due to prolonged relapse-free survival in complete responders to treatment. The mechanism by which thymosin increased survival duration is unclear but may relate to restoration of immune deficits due to disease or treatment.