Effects ofCorynebacterium parvum on cellular immunity of cancer patients, assayed sequentially over 63 days

Abstract

The immunologic effects of Corynebacterium parvum (2 mg/M²) infused at three-week intervals were determined by 19 sequential assays in each of nine patients with metastatic malignancy. Peripheral blood immunologic profiles were followed for 63 days. No statistical significant changes (P > 0.05) occurred in total white cell, lymphocyte, or monocyte counts. Subpopulation assays demonstrated significant increases in E rosetting cells but not in slg-bearing cells; there was a corresponding significant decrease in null-cell proportions. Killer cell lymphocytotoxicity was measured by ⁵¹Cr release from Chang target cells. Significant increases were observed one week after immunization and were maintained on subsequent immunizations. NK- and K-cell cytotoxicity were particularly augmented; T-cell cytotoxicity expressed as lytic units/ml was significantly increased on fewer assay occasions. Killer cell function has a possible in vivo antitumor role and methods of boosting and maintaining the activity deserve consideration. A three-week immunization schedule with C. parvum is supported by the current work and is the basis of a randomized adjuvant immunotherapy study of patients with malignant melanoma.