title: [Kampo medicine and new immunological parameter].
abstract: IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETER FOR CANCER PATIENTS: In this paper, we are the first to demonstrate that a disturbed immune system, especially imbalance between monocytes and T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, is closely related to cancer recurrence. We have developed a parameter of immunocompetence in cancer patients, which we designated the monocyte/T cell(M/T) ratio. The M/T ratio was shown to be related to cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in vitro. Furthermore, the M/T ratio should be useful for earlier detection of recurrence than conventional tumor markers. Early detection of recurrence would permit a timely retreatment decision and contribute to prolonged survival in cancer patients. IMMUNOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF KAMPO MEDICINE: Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48) is a traditional kampo medicine used in Japan and China. We demonstrated in this paper that CD3+8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for autologous and HLA shared allogeneic tumor cells were induced from peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by TJ-48 in vitro. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that the M/T ratio is decreased by administration of TJ-48 in patients with gynecologic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Kochi Medical School, Nankoku 783-8505.
authors.forename: Nagamasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maeda
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C063587:juzentaihoto