Nonspecific immunostimulation with low doses of cyclophosphamide (LDCY), thymostimulin, and Echinacea purpurea extracts (echinacin) in patients with far advanced colorectal cancers: preliminary results.
Outpatients (n = 15) with metastasizing far advanced colorectal cancers received immunotherapy consisting of low-dose cyclophosphamide (LDCY) 300 mg/m2 every 28 days i.v., thymostimulin 30 mg/m2, days 3-10 after low-dose cyclophosphamide i.m. once daily, then twice a week, and echinacin 60 mg/m2 together with thymostimulin i.m. All patients had had previous surgery and/or chemotherapy and had progressive disease upon entering the study. Two months after onset of therapy a partial tumor regression was documented in one and a stable disease in 6 other patients by abdominal ultrasonography, decrease of the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and/or chest roentgenography, which may also be attributed to the natural course of disease. Mean survival time was 4 months, 2 patients survived for more than 8 months. Immunotherapy was well tolerated by all patients without side effects.
Lersch
C
C
Kliniken und Polikliniken der Technischen, Universität München, Germany.
Zeuner
M
M
Bauer
A
A
Siemens
M
M
Hart
R
R
Drescher
M
M
Fink
U
U
Dancygier
H
H
Classen
M
M
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D020900:Echinacea; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013949:Thymus Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013949:Thymus Extracts; C031407:thymostimulin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C030210:echinacin