Value of lymphocyte reactivity induced by phytohemagglutinin in the treatment of malignant diseases

Clinical studies on the correlation between immunologic status and total gastrectomy combined with splenectomy

The influence of splenectomy on the immunologic status of stomach cancer patients was studied. Eight gastric cancer patients having undergone total gastrectomy combined with splenectomy were evaluated immunologically. Peripheral lymphocyte counts were depressed and continued to be so in splenectomized patients. PHA-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis decreased rapidly after total gastrectomy with splenectomy and thereafter increased gradually. PHA skin test seemed to take almost the same time course. These recoveries to the normal range were observed 4 weeks after operation. In 10 other patients who had undergone total gastrectomy with splenectomy for gastric cancer and had been recurrence-free for more than 6 months, peripheral lymphocyte and T lymphocyte counts significantly increased compared with 7 cases having undergone total gastrectomy only, though no difference was seen in both PHA skin test and PHA-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis between the 2 groups.

Clinical value of immunochemotherapy with OK-432 or PS-K for stomach cancer patients

A prospective clinical trial was undertaken in 121 patients with stomach cancer to compare immunochemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and FT-207 combined with OK-432 or PS-K, immunostimulators, and plain chemotherapy with 5-fluororacil and FT-207. Of the 121 patients who received immunochemotherapy, 67 patients (group A) had undergone curative removal of the tumor. The other 54 patients had undergone noncurative tumor removal or had recurrence after non-curative tumor removal and they were divided into two groups (groups B and C) on the basis of lymphocyte reactivity induced with PHA. Although group A exhibited a significant increase in PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation and a trifling increase in lymphocyte counts, its survival rate within a 36 month period did not differ from that of the peer controls. Group B, composed of 21 patients showing improvement of PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation, significantly prolonged its survival compared to the peer controls. The survival of group C, composed of 33 patients showing a gradual drop in PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation, was not prolonged compared to the peer control patients; and they showed significant decreases in lymphocyte counts. The overall survival of group B and group C was not superior to that of the 48 peer controls.