title: Small-cell lung cancer and immunochemotherapy with Propionibacterium granulosum KP 45.
abstract: Seventy-nine patients with small-cell lung cancer were treated with vincristin, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide in inductive therapy and with methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and procarbazine in maintenance therapy. Patients were divided at random into two groups: one group received chemotherapy alone and the second group was additionally subjected to systemic immunotherapy with Propionibacterium granulosum strain KP-45. In general, differences in the frequency of therapy response and in duration of remission could not be stated between the two groups of patients, but patients responding to chemotherapy showed a significantly longer remission time and lower complication rates. This benificial effect of chemoimmunotherapy is not related to a direct antitumor activity of the immunomodifier used, but to the lowered risk of myelosuppression and infections. Immunomodulation in combination with chemo- and/or radiotherapy can be recommended for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Roszkowski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nozdryn-Plotnicki
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roszkowski
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeljaszewicz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pulverer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011344:Procarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011424:Propionibacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011344:Procarbazine; D014750:Vincristine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008727:Methotrexate