Nonspecific Immunostimulation with Low Doses of Cyclophosphamide (LDCY), Thymostimulin, and Echinacea Purpurea Extracts (Echinacin) in Patients with Far Advanced Colorectal Cancers: Preliminary Results
- 1 January 1992
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Cancer Investigation
- Vol. 10 (5), 343-348
- https://doi.org/10.3109/07357909209024793
Abstract
Outpatients (n = 15) with metastasizing far advanced colorectal cancers received immunotherapy consisting of low-dose cyclophosphamide (LDCY) 300 mg/m2 every 28 days i.v., thymostimulin 30 mg/m2, days 3-10 after low-dose cyclophosphamide i.m. once daily, then twice a week, and echinacin 60 mg/m2 together with thymostimulin i.m. All patients had had previous surgery and/or chemotherapy and had progressive disease upon entering the study. Two months after onset of therapy a partial tumor regression was documented in one and a stable disease in 6 other patients by abdominal ultrasonography, decrease of the tumor markers carcinoem-bryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and/or chest roentgenography, which may also be attributed to the natural course of disease. Mean survival time was 4 months, 2 patients survived for more than 8 months. Immunotherapy was well tolerated by all patients without side effects.Keywords
This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evidence of a role for NK cells in oxazaphosphorine-mediated tumor regressionZeitschrift für Krebsforschung und Klinische Onkologie, 1989
- Macrophage Activation by the Polysaccharide Arabinogalactan Isolated From Plant Cell Cultures of Echinacea purpureaJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1989
- Interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cell therapy of solid tumors: analysis of toxicity and management guidelines.Journal of Clinical Oncology, 1989
- Overview of clinical trials using 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for the treatment of colorectal cancerCancer, 1989
- Immunotherapy of cancer using interleukin 2: current status and future prospectsImmunology Today, 1988
- Enhancement of the immune system of chemotherapy-treated cancer patients by simultaneous treatment with thymic extract, TP-1Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, 1980