CHANGES OF THE BLOOD LYMPHOCYTE POPULATION IN CANCER-PATIENTS TREATED WITH BESTATIN - A NEW IMMUNOMODULATOR - A PHASE I STUDY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (4) , 178-185
Abstract
Patients (21) with advanced metastatic cancer of various types received 30 mg bestatin daily orally as a single treatment for several weeks. The blood lymphocyte counts remained unchanged; the frequency of SRBC [sheep red blood cells] rosette-forming cells increased and the frequency of lymphocytes possessing receptors for the Fc-part of IgG became normalized after 2 wk of treatment. The frequency of lymphocytes possessing receptors for C''3 [complement component 3] was not changed. The natural killer activity of peripheral lymphocytes for [human erythroleukemia] K562 and [human liver] Chang cells increased; the PPD [purified protein derivative] stimulation of the lymphocytes was not altered. A slight, but significant increase of the PHA [phytohemagglutinin] stimulation of lymphocytes was observed after 4-7 wk of Bestatin treatment. Bestatin apparently is a nontoxic drug which changes the cellular composition and certain immunological functions of human lymphocytes.