title: Treatment with biologic response modifiers in patients with ovarian cancer.
abstract: The therapeutic and immunomodulating potential of biological response modifiers (BRM) such as OK-432 (a streptococcal preparation) and recombinant interferon gamma (rIFN-gamma) has been evaluated in 15 patients with advanced chemotherapy resistant ovarian cancer, presenting malignant ascites and/or pleural effusions. OK-432 was injected intracavitary in 10 patients in increasing doses from 0.2 up to 7.5 mg weekly. Five women were treated intracavitary with rIFN-gamma twice a week. The initial dose was 0.1 mg/m2 which was raised up to 12 mg/m2 over 6 weeks. With OK-432 a complete response was achieved for 14.1 + 8.9 months in 4 patients, a partial response for 1.7 + 0.3 months in 3 patients. The survival time of the 4 responders was significantly longer (21.1 + 8.3 months) than the survival time of the patients with partial or no response (4.9 + 2.7,4.1 + 2.3 months, respectively). In the rIFN-gamma therapy group, we found a partial response in one and no response in 4 patients. Toxicity observed under OK-432 and rIFN-gamma was minimal in all patients, suggesting a lack of systemic effect of intracavitary-applied BRM. With both agents, augmentation of certain immune responses, especially in the peritoneal cavity and to a lesser extent in the peripheral blood, has been documented. In 5 patients treated with OK-432, we found an overall augmentation of the effusion macrophage killer activity. rIFN-gamma augmented natural killer activity in 2 of 3 patients.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koelbl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Micksche
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gitsch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanzal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nowotny
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010844:Picibanil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010844:Picibanil; D007371:Interferon-gamma