Feasibility study of active immunotherapy in patients with solid tumors. 1976

R E Gerner, and G E Moore

Forty-five immunocompetent patients with solid tumors were immunized with BCG, PPD, and tumor cells. The methods were practical, but the morbidity was significant, including painful draining ulcerations at vaccine sites, possible enhancement of tumor growth in three patients, and the discovery at autopsy of systemic tuberculosis in one patient. Various facets of cellular immunity were altered, namely: 1) a majority of the patients developed enhanced cutaneous reactions to the microbial skin-test antigens (particularly tuberculin) and tumor cells; 2) nine patients developed the equivalent of delayed hypersensitivity reactions or flares at all previous PPD and BCG inoculation sites following subsequent injection of these agents, which supports the concept of immunologic memory for these target antigens; 3) lesions resembling those of "spontaneous" regressed moles (halo-nevi) were observed at previous vaccine sites in 20 patients and generalized depigmentation occurred in three patients; 4) foreign body giant cells in tumor metastasis remote from BCG-PPD-tumor vaccine sites may indicate a cross-reactivity of microbial and tumor antigens; and 5) intralesional inoculation of the nonspecific agents (BCG, PPD, Varidase, and Mumps) resulted in dense mononuclear cell infiltration and complete regression of most of the injected lesions. Destruction of single or multiple lesions by local injections of antigens did not provide either significant regression of uninjected lesions or clinical benefit.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006968 Hypersensitivity, Delayed An increased reactivity to specific antigens mediated not by antibodies but by sensitized T CELLS. Hypersensitivity, Tuberculin-Type,Hypersensitivity, Type IV,Tuberculin-Type Hypersensitivity,Type IV Hypersensitivity,Delayed Hypersensitivity,Delayed Hypersensitivities,Hypersensitivity, Tuberculin Type,Tuberculin Type Hypersensitivity,Tuberculin-Type Hypersensitivities,Type IV Hypersensitivities
D007111 Immunity, Cellular Manifestations of the immune response which are mediated by antigen-sensitized T-lymphocytes via lymphokines or direct cytotoxicity. This takes place in the absence of circulating antibody or where antibody plays a subordinate role. Cell-Mediated Immunity,Cellular Immune Response,Cell Mediated Immunity,Cell-Mediated Immunities,Cellular Immune Responses,Cellular Immunities,Cellular Immunity,Immune Response, Cellular,Immune Responses, Cellular,Immunities, Cell-Mediated,Immunities, Cellular,Immunity, Cell-Mediated,Response, Cellular Immune
D007167 Immunotherapy Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease. It includes both active and passive immunization as well as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection. Immunotherapies
D008297 Male Males
D008545 Melanoma A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445) Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D009163 Mycobacterium bovis The bovine variety of the tubercle bacillus. It is called also Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis. BCG,Calmette-Guerin Bacillus
D009362 Neoplasm Metastasis The transfer of a neoplasm from one organ or part of the body to another remote from the primary site. Metastase,Metastasis,Metastases, Neoplasm,Metastasis, Neoplasm,Neoplasm Metastases,Metastases
D009364 Neoplasm Recurrence, Local The local recurrence of a neoplasm following treatment. It arises from microscopic cells of the original neoplasm that have escaped therapeutic intervention and later become clinically visible at the original site. Local Neoplasm Recurrence,Local Neoplasm Recurrences,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrence,Neoplasm Recurrence, Locoregional,Neoplasm Recurrences, Local,Recurrence, Local Neoplasm,Recurrence, Locoregional Neoplasm,Recurrences, Local Neoplasm,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrences,Neoplasm Recurrences, Locoregional,Recurrences, Locoregional Neoplasm
D009369 Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms. Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D011379 Prognosis A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations. Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses

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