Nonspecific immunostimulation with low doses of cyclophosphamide (LDCY), thymostimulin, and Echinacea purpurea extracts (echinacin) in patients with far advanced colorectal cancers: preliminary results

Cancer Invest. 1992;10(5):343-8. doi: 10.3109/07357909209024793.

Abstract

Outpatients (n = 15) with metastasizing far advanced colorectal cancers received immunotherapy consisting of low-dose cyclophosphamide (LDCY) 300 mg/m2 every 28 days i.v., thymostimulin 30 mg/m2, days 3-10 after low-dose cyclophosphamide i.m. once daily, then twice a week, and echinacin 60 mg/m2 together with thymostimulin i.m. All patients had had previous surgery and/or chemotherapy and had progressive disease upon entering the study. Two months after onset of therapy a partial tumor regression was documented in one and a stable disease in 6 other patients by abdominal ultrasonography, decrease of the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and/or chest roentgenography, which may also be attributed to the natural course of disease. Mean survival time was 4 months, 2 patients survived for more than 8 months. Immunotherapy was well tolerated by all patients without side effects.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / adverse effects
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Echinacea
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • Thymus Extracts / adverse effects
  • Thymus Extracts / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Plant Extracts
  • Thymus Extracts
  • thymostimulin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • echinacin