echinacin and Colorectal-Neoplasms

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 carcinoembryonic 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.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; CD4-CD8 Ratio; Colorectal Neoplasms; Cyclophosphamide; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Echinacea; Female; Humans; Immunotherapy; Male; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts; T-Lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; Thymus Extracts