Jw. Hadden et al., INTERLEUKINS AND CONTRASUPPRESSION INDUCE IMMUNE REGRESSION OF HEAD AND NECK-CANCER, Archives of otolaryngology, head & neck surgery, 120(4), 1994, pp. 395-403
Metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer was treated in four pati
ents with low-dose cyclophosphamide (to reduce suppressor T-cell activ
ity), indomethacin (to reduce prostaglandins that mediate macrophage-i
nduced immune suppression), zinc (to augment T-cell function via thymu
lin), and mixed natural interleukins perilymphatically in the neck (as
adjuvant for tumor antigen in the region). Three patients responded w
ithin 7 days with major tumor regressions progressive during the perio
d of treatment and associated with increased infiltration with lymphoc
ytes and tumor cell lysis. Two showed histologic features of intense d
elayed hypersensitivity with granulomatous changes. The fourth patient
was anergic and failed to respond clinically. Tumor-specific immune r
esponse, despite preexisting immunodeficiency, is postulated as the me
chanism of the responses in these patients.