title: Investigations on cell-mediated immunity in patients with breast and ovarian carcinomas receiving a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy with thymopentin.
abstract: In 78 patients with breast and 37 patients with ovarian cancer the effect of combined chemo- and immunotherapy with thymopentin (Timunox, Cilag) on different parameters of cell-mediated immunity (leukocyte migration inhibition test, serum level of TNF-alpha, IL-1, interferon-alpha, distribution of lymphocyte subsets) and the clinical course of disease was evaluated and compared to patients receiving only chemotherapy. In cancer patients additionally treated with thymopentin an increase in reactivity in the LMI test and an increase of IFN-alpha serum levels could be observed, whereas serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-2 and the distribution of T-helper, T-suppressor, total T and natural killer cells did not change. Concerning the clinical course of disease, no significant differences could be observed in patients with disseminated spread of disease, whereas in patients receiving combined chemo-immunotherapy in the course of an adjuvant treatment a benefit was found compared to those receiving only chemotherapy. Thus, it seems that the additional administration of thymopentin in breast and ovarian cancer patients under chemotherapy results in a reduction of immunosuppressive side effects of chemotherapy and a positive effect of the survival time in patients with limited spread of disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Bonn, Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Venusberg, W. Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mallmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krebs
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D016305:Thymopentin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016305:Thymopentin