picibanil and Leukopenia

During the period from January 1981 to December 1983, two groups of a total of 51 patients (31 malignant astrocytomas, 17 glioblastomas, and 3 others) were treated with radioimmunochemotherapy using nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) plus Picibanil (OK-432) (group A) and radiochemotherapy with ACNU only (group B) in a randomized controlled study. Group A consisted of 24 patients and group B of 27 patients. The differences in the background of the two groups were not statistically significant. Survival curves of both groups were shown by the Kaplan-Meier method. The postoperative survival rate at 1 year and 3 years was 70% and 30%, respectively, equal in both groups, and the differences between groups A and B were not statistically significant by the Cox-Mantel test. The side effects seen in group B were most prominent in the bone marrow, and severe leukopenia occurred. However, in group A leukopenia was suppressed after 2 months. Immunologic parameters, such as the purified protein derivative skin reaction test, did not change, but the streptococcus pyogenes Su-strain polysaccharide skin-reaction test became more positive after therapy in group A.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biological Products; Brain Neoplasms; Clinical Trials as Topic; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Glioma; Humans; Leukopenia; Male; Middle Aged; Nimustine; Nitrosourea Compounds; Picibanil; Random Allocation; Skin Tests

Fourty-three patients with pleuritis carcinomatosa have been treated with an intra-thoracic administration in four distinct ways: Adriamycin alone, OK-432 alone, the combination of Adriamycin with OK-432, or the combination of Mitomycin C with OK-432. Judging from an evaluation of the subsequent chest X-rays, the prognosis of the cases which received the combination therapy of the two drugs was significantly better to that of the others. There were no significant differences between cases with primary lung cancer and those with other cancers. As for the side effects after the administration, there were no side effects, such as the trouble the renal function or liver function, other than fever and a decrease in the W.B.C.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biological Products; Doxorubicin; Female; Fever; Humans; Injections; Leukopenia; Mitomycin; Mitomycins; Neoplasms; Picibanil; Pleurisy; Prognosis; Thorax

Effects of a novel synthetic compound, Y-19995, on the host defence in immunocompromised mice were investigated in terms of the restoration of leukocytopenia and the protection against several microbial infections. Oral or intravenous administration of Y-19995 into mice after X-irradiation, treatment with cyclophosphamide or mitomycin C prevented the leukocytopenia to some extent and promoted the restoration in cell numbers of both the peripheral blood leukocytes and bone marrow. Intravenous administration of Y-19995 increased significantly the survival rates of X-ray irradiated mice against acute systemic infections with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, and intramuscular infection with Escherichia coli. The clearance of Escherichia coli from the blood of X-ray irradiated mice was also promoted by the treatment with Y-19995. The augmented protection against microbial infections in immunocompromised hosts by Y-19995 may be attributed mainly to the prevention of leukocytopenia or the enhanced restoration from leukocytopenia.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Bone Marrow; Bone Marrow Cells; Candidiasis; Cyclophosphamide; Escherichia coli Infections; Immunosuppression Therapy; Leukocyte Count; Leukopenia; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Mitomycins; Picibanil; Pseudomonas Infections; Pyridines

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Biological Products; Cerebellar Neoplasms; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Leukopenia; Male; Medulloblastoma; Picibanil; Radiation Injuries; Spinal Cord; Thrombocytopenia