Analysis of the results of treament of lung cancer patients with BCG according to the scheme of application of the bacillus
Hadziev, S.; Kavaklieva-Dimitrova, J.
Neoplasma 24: 225-231
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2685 PMID: 325424 Document Number: 110390
BCG was successfully applied in lymphoid and myeloid leukemia but no positive results were demonstrated in solid tumors except malignant melanoma after intratumor injection. The present approach consists of applying BCG as an only antitumor treatment, in smaller doses and longer intervals between them, then used by other investigators. Analysis of the treatment schemes of BCG applied to 171 lung cancer patients showed that positive responses were obtained only in patients without peripheral dissemination of the disease and in doses from 0.0001-0.05 mg. The results obtained depended on the frequency of BCG application: the 5 yr survival rate, mean survival period and rate of X-ray regression were best in patients treated once, good in patients treated in intervals > 30 days between applications of mycobacteria and worst in patients treated in intervals < 20 days. A direct inverse correlation was discovered between the mean survival period of treated patients and the number of applications of BCG in the first 6 mo. of treatment.