Abstract
22 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer were randomized to receive chemotherapy (ifosfamide) or chemotherapy followed by thymosin alpha1 + low-dose IFNalpha. Chemo-immunotherapy induced an enhanced response rate compared with chemotherapy alone (33% and 10% respectively). Although these differences were not significant, the difference in time to progression was (p=0.0059). CD4+, CD8+ and NK cell counts were significantly depressed after two cycles of chemotherapy, while no difference in cell count were seen in chemo-immunotherapy treated patients. Hematologic toxicity was reduced by the immunotherapy, with no grade 3/4 toxicity seen compared to 50% in patients treated with chemotherapy alone.
Publication types
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Clinical Trial
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Clinical Trial, Phase II
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Randomized Controlled Trial
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
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Adenocarcinoma / immunology
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Adjuvants, Immunologic / adverse effects
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Adjuvants, Immunologic / therapeutic use*
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Adult
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Aged
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / immunology
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
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Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / immunology
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Female
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Humans
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Ifosfamide / administration & dosage
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Ifosfamide / adverse effects
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Immunity, Cellular / drug effects
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Immunotherapy
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Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
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Interferon-alpha / adverse effects
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Leukopenia / chemically induced
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Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
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Lung Neoplasms / immunology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Thymalfasin
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Thymosin / adverse effects
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Thymosin / analogs & derivatives*
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Thymosin / therapeutic use
Substances
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Adjuvants, Immunologic
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Interferon-alpha
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Thymosin
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Ifosfamide
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Thymalfasin