Long-term survival of patients with brain tumors treated with ACNU and PSK after surgery--with special reference to there immunological follow-up
Saito, Y.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 11(10): 2185-2192
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 6333212 Document Number: 230808
Forty-one non-selected patients with malignant brain tumors have been treated since 1976 with chemoimmunotherapy using ACNU and PSK postoperatively. Eleven (27%) of these cases have survived usefully over five years, including 6 cases (30%) out of 20 with glioblastoma (astrocytoma III, IV approximately Kernohan). This long-term survival response for glioblastoma was considered to be better than any previous figures in the literature. Among these 6 cases, one child of 11 years old with brain stem tumor was found to be so significantly improved by chemoimmunotherapy that no surgery was needed. In another patient with astrocytoma III of the bilateral thalamus, the tumor was seen to be diminished so completely on CT examination after administration of ACNU(100 mg x 4), that no surgery was needed except for external decompression and was needed except for external decompression and biopsy. In three other cases local (intracavitary) chemotherapy was performed successfully. Local concentration of ACNU in these latter cases 24 h after its insertion was verified as being markedly higher than that in peripheral blood and brain tissues after intravascular administration. In an immunological study of these brain tumors, parameters such as lymphocytes and T cells in peripheral blood and Ig(G.A.M) in serum were examined. The results showed that these parameters were almost at normal levels in long-term survival patients (Group I), low in short-term survivals patients (Group II died) and normal in all control cases (Group III benign brain tumors, traumatic disorders etc.). Combined administration of PSK was considered to be very effective for the improvement of these parameters.