Prospective evaluation of thymosin fraction V immunotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving vindesine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (VAP) chemotherapy.
One hundred five patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were randomized to receive thymosin fraction V immunotherapy during remission induction chemotherapy with vindesine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (VAP). Fifty-four patients received VAP alone. Fifty-one patients received VAP + thymosin. Both groups were comparable; most patients were male, with a good performance status and with the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Among 99 evaluable patients, response was seen in 24 (2 CRs, 22 PRs) of 53 (45%) patients treated with VAP and 10 (all PRs) of 46 (22%) patients treated with VAP + thymosin (p = 0.03). VAP-treated patients responded better than those treated with VAP + thymosin in each tumor category: adenocarcinoma, 50% of 36 patients versus 22% of 27 patients; squamous cell carcinoma, 29% of 14 patients versus 21% of 13 patients; undifferentiated carcinoma, 67% of three patients versus 17% of six patients. Median survival duration was 34 weeks versus 25 weeks in favor of the VAP-treated group (p = 0.14). Thymosin treatment resulted in decreased graft-vs.-host reaction (p = 0.01) and increased suppressor effect on normal mitogen response to Con-A (p = 0.17). The activity of VAP chemotherapy is comparable with the most effective multidrug regimens of the present time in patients with advanced non-small cell tumors. The addition of thymosin immunotherapy appeared to have a negative effect on the activity of VAP.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000209:etiology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000209:etiology; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
C033782:thymosin fraction 5; D014750:Vincristine; D013947:Thymosin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011239:Prednisolone