title: Immunotherapy of patients with terminal-stage malignant tumors with an immunopotentiator OK-432--a comparison of SU-PS test-responding and -nonresponding patients.
abstract: Terminal malignant tumor cases were treated with immunopotentiator OK-432. The absolute numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes and different lymphocyte subsets were determined, and SU-PS and PPD skin tests were also performed to monitor the immunologic status of each patient. The SU-PS test changed to positive in one-third of the patients 2-6 weeks after the start of therapy. The SU-PS responding patients showed an increase in lymphocytes and Leu II+ cells, and an elevation of the OK T4/T8 ratio 2 weeks later. In all patients from the responding group, the (OKIal+ - Bl+) cells decreased in the peripheral blood immediately after the positive change in the SU-PS test. In the SU-PS nonresponding group, the OKT4+ cells tended to decline with time, while the OKT8+ cells increased. That is, the OKT4/T8 ratio remained low throughout the test period. In the SU-PS responding group, OK-432 therapy prolonged the survival time.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D010844:Picibanil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001688:Biological Products; D010844:Picibanil