Stimulation of the immune response in outpatients with hepatocellular carcinomas by low doses of cyclophosphamide (LDCY), echinacea purpurea extracts (Echinacin) and thymostimulin.

Abstract

Outpatients with inoperable far advanced hepato-cellular carcinomas (n = 5) were treated with LDCY--300 mg/m2 i.v. every 28 days-, echinacin--60 mg/m2 i.m.--and thymostimulin--30 mg/m2 i.m., day 3-10 after LDCY, then twice a week. Therapy was well tolerated by all patients. Their Karnofsky' index increased for 10% in the mean. A stable disease for more than 8 weeks was documented by abdominal ultrasonography in one patient. Serum levels of Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP), Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) and Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA) did not increase in 2 patients. Median survival time was 2.5 months. One patient is still alive after 8 months. Absolute numbers of CD8+ cells significantly (p less than 0.02) decreased for 7% 1 day after LDCY, whereas CD4+ cells increased (p less than 0.02) from day 1-7. Numbers of natural killer (NK-) cells increased for 17% (p less than 0.05), their activity for 90% (p less than 0.05). Activities of peripheral polymorphs (p less than 0.05) increased for 27% and of Lymphokine Activated Killer (LAK-) cells for 180% (p less than 0.05).