title: Effects of transfer factor in patients with advanced cancer.
abstract: Eighteen patients with advanced cancer were given subcutaneous injections of pooled dialyzable transfer factor (TFd) from normal donors for periods of from 9 days to 6.5 months. Minor tumor regression was observed in only two patients, an effect of no therapeutic significance. However, treatment with TFd was associated with at least a temporary increase in delayed hypersensitivity reactions in 12 of 17 patients tested, including four patients who became responsive to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene. In general, in vitro tests of immune function were not changed after treatment with TFd except for levels of C1q, and/or C3, which were increased in 6 of 10 patients tested. We conclude that TFd may augment delayed hypersensitivity in patients with advanced cancer, and that its effects are, at least in part, immunologically nonsepcific.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000209:etiology; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012397:Rosette Formation; D014165:Transfer Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014165:Transfer Factor