A trial of nonspecific immunotherapy using systemic C. parvum in treated patients with Dukes B and C colorectal cancer.
In view of the relatively poor prognosis for patients after surgery for locally invasive colorectal cancer a trial of repeated systemic infusions of Corynebacterium parvum (CP) has been carried out. It is in this group of patients, with a high risk of recurrence from small residues of cancer left by the surgeon, that immunotherapy should have its optimum chance of success. A total of 92 patients were included in a randomized controlled study. The two groups were comparable in terms of tumour stage at presentation, operation performed and mean age of patients, but the control group had a preponderance of male patients. The study was carried out over 54 months. Treatment resulted in greater side effects than had been predicted, and as a result many patients could not be considered for inclusion.
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes; D011897:Random Allocation; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*