Immunochemotherapy in human lung cancer using the streptococcal agent OK-432

Streptococcal agent OK-432 was administered at maintenance levels with conventional inductive chemotherapeutic agents to stage III and IV lung cancer patients. Survival rates were longer in patients treated with OK-432 than in patients treated without OK-432. An enhancement of lymphocyte blastogenic activity and a delayed PPD skin reaction were found in patients treated by OK-432. A low grade fever was present as a side effect of this agent in some patients. The results suggest that OTK-432 may be useful immunotherapeutic agent in combination with induction chemotherapy in reducing host damage in advanced stages of lung cancer.