title: Immunological analysis and clinical effects of intraabdominal and intrapleural injection of lentinan for malignant ascites and pleural effusion.
abstract: Twenty effusions in sixteen patients with malignant peritoneal and/or pleural effusions were treated with intracavitary injection of lentinan. Lentinan was injected at a dosage of 4 mg/week for 4 weeks. In total, sixteen (80%) of twenty lesions demonstrated clinical responses. Performance status was improved in seven patients. The average survival time in responders was 129 days, while, in non-responders, it was 49 days. Serious toxicities were not observed. NK activity of PBMC significantly decreased after lentinan injection. NK activity of PEC in responders was augmented significantly. Anti-Daudi and lymphokine activated killer activity were also augmented or maintained after lentinan injection.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hazama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimoda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001201:Ascites / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects; D007912:Lentinan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007912:Lentinan