title: Advanced colon cancer: antiprogressive immunotherapy using an autologous hemoderivative.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advanced colon cancer patients, acquired-chemotherapy resistant and in progression, are therapeutically terminal. We tested a recently described medical procedure using a thermostable autologous hemoderivative purported to inhibit tumor growth possibly through an immunological mechanism of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metastatic colon cancer patients chemotherapy-resistant, high CEA plasma levels, in progression, were 2-group randomized. Group 1 received the test procedure and Group 2 adequate control measures. During an 8-mo follow-up period (n = 101), tumor growth, number of cases attaining clinical nonprogressive status, and mortality were assessed monthly. Immunological effect was assessed by delayed-type hypersensitivity test and lymphocyte proliferation assay. Responding-tumors histopathologies were studied.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a significant number of cases, the test procedure promoted inhibition of tumor growth, nonprogressive disease status, and lower cumulative mortality. These clinical results were associated with polyvalent immunization against several tested antigens: the hemoderivative used for treatment, the blood tumor markers, and the regulatory lymphocyte population (CD4+CD25+). Interference with this regulatory activity could explain the selective autoimmunity suggested by the histopathology findings in responding tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The autologous hemoderivative tested is antigenically polyvalent and promotes a polytargeted immune response associated with a tumor antiprogressive effect, consequently, acting as an autologous hemoderivative cancer vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research & Development, PharmaBlood Inc, 2050 NE 163rd Street, # 202, North Miami Beach, Florida 33162, USA. research@pharmablood.com
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lasalvia-Prisco
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Giralt
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cucchi
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lasalvia-Galante
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Golomar
authors.forename: Joshemaria
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larrañga
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology