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Biomedical subjects

W K Amery

Publications and source records attributed to W K Amery.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Levamisole.

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Drug Evaluation↗
PubMed1979

Time in chemo-immunotherapy models: an absolute or a relative variable? Lessons from the levamisole experience.

An analysis is presented of the findings from the available studies in several cancer models, where 2.5-20 mg/kg levamisole was given in combination with different types of cytostatic drugs. It appears that in chemo-immunotherapy experiments it may be preferable to measure time variables (increase in life span, timing of chemotherapy and of immunotherapy) as a per cent of the median survival time of the untreated controls instead of using time as an absolute measure (in days). As regards the study of levamisole in chemo-imnmunotherapy models, the increase in life span by the cytostatic alone seems to be the most important variable studied here. An "optimal" protocol for the evaluation of levamisole is proposed based upon all the findings of this analysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Adjuvant therapy with levamisole in resectable lung cancer.

In view of the discouraging results that have been obtained so far with the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy as an adjunct to surgery, a double-blind placebo-controlled evaluation of the adjuvant use of levamisole was conducted in 211 resectable lung cancer patients, following these patients for 2 years after their operation. Levamisole (or the placebo) was given for 3 days every 2 weeks and the dose level ranged 1.1--3.8 mg/kg per day (a fixed dose of 3 x 50 mg was given to all patients). It appeared that recurrences and carcinomatous deaths had occurred significantly less often in patients who had received a high dose (i.e., 2.1--3,8 mg/kg: patients weighing 70 kg or less) but not in the patients who received a lower dose. Patients who had more advanced cancers at the time of surgery seemed to have profited more from the treatment, but the results did not seem to depend upon the histologic type of the tumor or on the immune status of the patients as estimated from the skin test reactivity at the start. There was also suggestive evidence that levamisole may be more effective in preventing hematogenous dissemination than in inhibiting recurrences in the lung or the mediastinal tissues. Levamisole, if dosed adequately, appears to be a very suitable adjuvant treatment in resectable lung cancer patients as judged from its efficacy and its lack of troublesome side-effects.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

Final results of a multicenter placebo-controlled levamisole study of resectable lung cancer.

Two hundred and eleven patients with resectable lung cancer have been treated in a double-blind clinical investigation with either levamisole (50 mg three times a day) or a placebo given in 3-day courses starting 3 days before the operation and repeated every 2 weeks. The study was terminated after all patients had been in the trial for 2 years. The dose of levamisole used in this study appears to be sufficient only for patients weighing less than or equal to 70 kg and, therefore, future studies should make use of an individually adapted dose. Such a treatment is expected to prolong both the disease-free interval and the survival time without causing major side effects in a significant number of patients. This result is achieved primarily by an inhibition of hematogenous dissemination and occurs especially in those patients who had more advanced tumors at the time of the resection.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

Effects of levamisole treatment in cancer patients.

Twenty-six controlled prognostic evaluations of the adjuvant use of levamisole in cancer are reviewed. The results favor intermittent administration of levamisole in a dosage that is adapted to the patient's weight or body surface. Early treatment is indicated, but synchronous treatment with cytotoxic therapies is to be avoided. The best results have been achieved in advanced but still potentially curable patients. Major toxicity occurs very seldom and measures are suggested to further characterize the few patients who are at risk of developing allergic agranulocytosis, a potentially life-threatening side effect.

Body Weight↗
PubMed1977

Adjuvant treatment with levamisole in cancer: a review of experimental and clinical data.

Animal and human studies of adjuvant treatment with levamisole in cancer are reviewed and discussed. From the animal data it is concluded that the activity of levamisole is dose-dependent, more effective on slow-growing tumors, affects metastasis formation, preferentially is best when levamisole is used as an adjuvant to the usual cytoreductive treatments and that tumor enhancement is not expected. Clinical findings are put into perspective of the animal data and the most appropriate clinical situations are indicated.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Double-blind levamisole trial in resectable lung cancer.

The third interim analysis of a prospective double-blind placebo-controlled trial with levamisole as an adjunct to surgery in resectable primary lung carcinoma is reported. The data show that a beneficial effect is clearly present in patients who weigh 70 kg or less but not in others; therefore, it would seem advisable to prescribe levamisole at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg/day. In the adequately dosed patients, an almost complete elimination of distant metastases is found. The levamisole effect also seem more pronounced in patients who have a heavier tumor load at operation. The rationale for starting levamisole before surgery and for continuing thereafter is briefly discussed.

Adult↗