Short-term results of combined radioimmunotherapy in inoperable lung cancer

Fifty-three inoperable lung cancer patients were treated with radiotherapy combined with immunostimulation with BCG. A good response was obtained in 30 patients (56%); the results were not significantly different than those obtained with a control group of 50 lung cancer patients matched by age, sex and stage of the disease (24 out of 50 equals 46%). These short-term results were compared with the immunologic "status" of patients evaluated before treatment by the parameters monitoring in vivo and in vitro delayed type hypersensitivity. The good response to therapy was documented in a higher percentage of patients with positive skin tests to recall and standard antigens and with normal values of lymphocyte transformation with PHA and Rosette E-forming cells, in comparison with patients with low levels of immunocompetence. An impairment of the cell-mediated immune response was found after combined therapy, presumably due to radiotherapy. BCG was not able to restore the patient's immunocompetence, no effect on host's immune reactivity was demonstrated. As regards humoral immunity, the patients with low levels of IgG before treatment (12/14) showed a good response.