Stimulation of Immune Response in Lung Cancer Patients by Vitamin A Therapy

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Abstract
Based on a clinical trial, in which patients with unresectable bronchogenic cancer were treated with a combination of vitamin A plus chemotherapy, or vitamin A plus radiotherapy, a study was initiated in which vitamin A alone was given for tumor treatment. Male patients (9) with metastatic unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the lung were treated with vitamin A palmitate or 13-cis vitamin A acid. Up to 7 treatment courses were given during a period of 60 wk. Through weekly evaluation of the patients'' immune status, an immune potentiating effect of the vitamin A therapy could be demonstrated. An increase of lymphocyte blastogenesis response to PHA [phytohemagglutinin] which is significant (P < 0.001) compared with the pretreatment values, was found in all patients at the end of 1 vitamin A treatment course. Increased delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions were also observed in all patients. The immune potentiating effects of vitamin A therapy, as well as the demonstrated direct effect on the tumor, introduces a wide range of combination therapies.