Transfer factor versus combination chemotherapy: a preliminary report of a randomized postsurgical adjuvant treatment study in osteogenic sarcoma.
Twenty-six patients with classic osteosarcoma were randomized to receive either transfer factor or combination chemotherapy. Eight of 14 patients who received transfer factor converted their skin test markers, evidence of activity of the transfer factor. Of these eight patients, all are alive; four are free of disease. Of the 18 patients who received combination chemotherapy, 14 are alive, 12 of whom are free of disease. The immunologic test procedures performed sequentially reveal that transfer factor appears to enhance cell-mediated immunity, but it is evident that in this study, a control (saline) arm in the protocol could not be included. It is of interest that the chemotherapy regimen used does not appear to suppress such activity permanently. The individual test results, however, are not very helpful for predicting response to treatment. The small numbers of patients and the short duration of this study, combined with the exclusion of parosteal osteogenic sarcomas and jaw tumors, do not permit a meaningful comparison with other published studies.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014165:Transfer Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014165:Transfer Factor; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D008727:Methotrexate