picibanil and Remission--Spontaneous

Topics: Aged; Antineoplastic Agents; Catheter Ablation; Colonic Neoplasms; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Humans; Injections, Intralesional; Liver Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; Picibanil; Radio Waves; Remission, Spontaneous; Reoperation; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This study includes all the children treated with OK-432 for lymphangioma at our institute. Twenty-nine children treated between 1999 and 2003 are reported for the first time: twelve cases regressed completely, eight cases regressed more than 50% and seven remained unchanged; two cases were lost at follow-up. The outcome was related to the size of the cysts, the larger ones having a better prognosis. The adverse reactions are discussed and the methods of treatment are described in detail. Fifteen children, treated before 1999 and already reported, are reviewed after a long-term follow-up. Four had a recurrence: one regressed spontaneously and three needed further treatment. The other 11 had no complaints. Even considering the risk of recurrence, OK-432 therapy remains our first line therapy for lymphangiomas, avoiding surgery in most cases.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lymphangioma, Cystic; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Picibanil; Remission Induction; Remission, Spontaneous

Immunotherapy with daily intradermal injections of OK-432, penicillin- and heat-treated lyophilized powder of Su-strain of streptococcus pyogens A3, for over a period of four weeks resulted in quantitative and qualitative effectiveness on impaired cell-mediated immunity even in many patients with far advanced cancer of the stomach or lung. In vitro lymphocyte studies following immunotherapy with OK-432 demonstrated restoration of circulating lymphocyte counts to more than 1,500/microliters, a level associated with normalized subpopulation constitution and increases of phytomitogen blastogenesis. Furthermore, a delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction to PPD was boosted or converted into a positive reaction in some cases. There was, however, no detectable, definite effect on humoral immunity after the therapy. Survival rates at three and six months after the initiation of immunochemotherapy using OK-432 and another chemotherapeutic agent, 5-fluorouracil, in 40 patients with cancer were significantly longer than those of matched control patients given chemotherapy alone.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biological Products; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Immunotherapy; In Vitro Techniques; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Activation; Middle Aged; Mitogens; Neoplasms; Picibanil; Remission, Spontaneous; T-Lymphocytes; Tuberculin Test

Topics: Aged; Betamethasone; Biological Products; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid; Male; Picibanil; Remission, Spontaneous