Successful Maintenance Immunotherapy by BCG of Non-Hodgkin's Malignant Lymphomas: Results of a Controlled Trial

Abstract

Patients (48) less than 65 yr old, suffering non-Hodgkin''s malignant lymphomas with 1 or more criteria of poor prognosis, were priorly placed in complete remission by an association of chemo + radio + chemotherapy. They were then randomized to receive either BCG in weekly scarifications for 3 yr or no further treatment. Five patients were excluded (4 after pathological reassessment); 43 are thus evaluable. There were 13 relapses out of 23 control patients and 3 relapses out of 20 treated patients (0.01 < P 0.025). This difference is more distinct for clinical stages I and II (0.01 < P 0.025) than for stages III and IV (not significant). Eight patients died in the control group, whereas there was only 1 death in the treated group (0.025 < P < 0.05). BCG is apparently useful in maintaining remission in about 40% of the cases and also in increasing their survival, especially in patients with clinical stages I or II.