TRANSFER-FACTOR AS AN ADJUVANT TO NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER (NSCLC) THERAPY

The rationale for using transfer factor (TF) in lung cancer patients i s that the possibility of improving their cell-mediated immunity to tu mour associated antigens (TAA) may improve their survival. From Jan 19 84 to Jan 1995, 99 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resected patient s were monthly treated with TF, extracted from the lymphocytes of bloo d bank donors. In the same period, 257 NSCLC resected patients were co nsidered as non-treated controls. The survival rates of the TF treated group appear significantly improved both for patients in stages 3a an d 3b, and patients with histological subtype ''large cell carcinoma'' (P<0.02). Survival of TF treated patients is also significantly higher (P<0.02) for patients with lymphnode involvement (N2 disease). The re sults of this study suggest that the administration of TF to NSCLC res ected patients may improve survival.