Stimulation of the immune response in outpatients with hepatocellular carcinomas by low doses of cyclophosphamide (LDCY), echinacea purpurea extracts (Echinacin) and thymostimulin.
Outpatients with inoperable far advanced hepato-cellular carcinomas (n = 5) were treated with LDCY--300 mg/m2 i.v. every 28 days-, echinacin--60 mg/m2 i.m.--and thymostimulin--30 mg/m2 i.m., day 3-10 after LDCY, then twice a week. Therapy was well tolerated by all patients. Their Karnofsky' index increased for 10% in the mean. A stable disease for more than 8 weeks was documented by abdominal ultrasonography in one patient. Serum levels of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA) did not increase in 2 patients. Median survival time was 2.5 months. One patient is still alive after 8 months. Absolute numbers of CD8+ cells significantly (p less than 0.02) decreased for 7% 1 day after LDCY, whereas CD4+ cells increased (p less than 0.02) from day 1-7. Numbers of natural killer (NK-) cells increased for 17% (p less than 0.05), their activity for 90% (p less than 0.05). Activities of peripheral polymorphs (p less than 0.05) increased for 27% and of Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK-) cells for 180% (p less than 0.05).
Lersch
C
C
II. Department of Internal Medicine, Technical University of Munich, FRG.
Zeuner
M
M
Bauer
A
A
Siebenrock
K
K
Hart
R
R
Wagner
F
F
Fink
U
U
Dancygier
H
H
Classen
M
M
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020900:Echinacea; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013949:Thymus Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013949:Thymus Extracts; C031407:thymostimulin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C030210:echinacin