title: The effects of thymostimulin on immunological function in patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: Patients with head and neck carcinoma show deficits of cellular immunity, probably due to low molecular mass factors (LMMFs) released by the tumour. Thymostimulin (TP1) restores the defective monocyte chemotaxis and dendritic cell clustering capability in the presence of the tumour when administered pre-operatively. In the present study we investigated these immune parameters in 39 patients treated with TP1 for 10 days pre- and 6 months post-operatively and in 22 patients who were not treated with TP1 for 6 months after operation. Removal of the tumour in non-TP1-treated patients also resulted in a restoration of monocyte and dendritic cell functions, while TP1 treatment gave no additional effect. LMMF levels in the blood of both TP1-treated and non-TP1-treated patients remained elevated even after removal of the tumour, and it is therefore concluded that it is unlikely that depression of cellular immunity is a direct effect of these LMMFS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Dijkzigt, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kerrebijn
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tas
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Knegt
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Van de Brekel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delaere
authors.forename: I B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Drexhage
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Balm
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011182:Postoperative Care; D013949:Thymus Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D013949:Thymus Extracts; C031407:thymostimulin