IMMUNOTHERAPY OF HUMAN LUNG-CANCER WITH BCG CELL-WALL SKELETON

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 67  (6) , 787-795
Abstract
Effect of BCG cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) on the recovery of responsiveness of lymphocytes and the survival period was studied in patients with lung cancer. Responsiveness of lymphocytes as demonstrated by proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or microcytotoxicity tests with cultured cells of a bronchogenic carcinoma was depressed in patients at later stages of cancer and restored by treatment with BCG-CWS in many such patients. The survival period of patients at later stages such as III or IV was prolonged by treatment with BCG-CWS. Such an effect was detected even in patients with carcinomatous pleuritis. A close correlation was found between reactivity such as the PHA response or cytotoxicity and clinical course of patients given BCG-CWS. An assay system with PHA response and microcytotoxicity tests appears to be reliable in anticipating the prognosis and following the clinical course after BCG-CWS treatment.

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