[Anti-cancer effects of BRMs associated with nutrition in cancer patients].
Nutritional deficiencies are believed to be instrumental in producing reduced immune responses in a variety of animal species. Malnutrition may result in an increase or a decrease in immune functions, depending upon its degree, and also the timing and severity of the nutritional protein deprivation. Our experimental data suggest that there is a significant impairment of cytotoxic activity against K-562 and of the ability of spleen cells to produce interferon in protein-deprived mice in comparison with control mice. Paradoxically accelerated tumor growth after administration of OK-432 or Lentinan was also noted in protein-deficient tumor-bearing mice. In addition, a clinical randomized study of advanced or recurrent gastric cancer patients treated with MMC and FT(MF) with or without lentinan was performed. We recognized excellent end-point results only in the lentinan-treated patients with normal protein levels, while no effect of this agent was seen in patients with low serum protein levels (below 5.9/dl). Aggressive postoperative chemotherapy for cases with distant lymph node metastasis was performed under active nutritional support without any depression of metabolic and immunological states, resulting in a good 5-year survival rate (36.9%).
Nishihira
T
T
2nd Dept. of Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine.
Akimoto
M
M
Mori
S
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007912:Lentinan / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000276:immunology*; D010844:Picibanil / Q000494:pharmacology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007912:Lentinan; D010844:Picibanil