Previous serological studies undertaken in our laboratory have shown that the repeated administration of small doses of C. parvum to a small group of cancer patients resulted in a consistant increase in the levels of IgG (especially the IgG2b subclass), the development of antibodies to C. parvum and the transient appearance of 'rheumatoid factor like' substances in the serum (Br. J. Cancer, 32, 310, 1975). In the present paper we report the results of similar studies in small numbers of (a) inoperable bronchogenic carcinoma patients receiving combined C. parvum and cyclophosphamide therapy, and (b) brain glioma patients receiving intracerebral injection of C. parvum. As might be expected some of the serological changes observed in these patients were not as marked as previously noted. Nevertheless a number of the patients developed autoantibodies which were detectable by the latex and Ripley procedures but not by the Rose-Waaler test. There was no evidence of antinuclear factors by the fluorescence procedure.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Prospects for immunotherapy.

The limitations of conventional methods of treating cancer are such that it is worth devoting considerable resources to the search for new methods. The immunotherapeutic approach is based on theoretical grounds which, despite recent criticism, still appear compelling, and on much sound experimental work. Clinical benefits have so far been meagre but this is not surprising in view of the poor design of many of the trials and the large tumour burden in many of the patients. It is suggested that properly controlled trials, designed in the light of existing knowledge to answer a specific question, are much more likely to be rewarding than empirical attempts to win a therapeutic jackpot.

Humans↗