[A basic study on plasma exchange therapy of malignant tumor in tumor bearing rats]

We conducted an experimental animal study to make a comparative evaluation of therapeutic effects of plasma exchange alone and combination therapy. The subjects of this study were divided into four groups: (1) untreated group (control). (2) plasma exchange group (PE). (3) Mitomycin C treated group (MMC: active control) and (4) plasma exchange + MMC treated group (combination therapy). A tumor inhibiting effect was observed in the MMC and combination therapy groups, but was absent in the PE group. The survival-periods, however, were extended in the PE group, and to a significant extent in the combination therapy group. Alpha 1 acid glycoprotein (alpha 1 AGP) whose plasma level is low in the normal, is demonstrated to increase linealy with the tumor load in the plasma of cancer-bearing rats. And it is observed to decreased after plasma exchange. Present basic studies suggested that plasma exchange alone has a survival-prolonging effect, but produces no inhibitory effect on tumor growth, and the combination therapy has a greater life-extending effect than plasma exchange alone or chemotherapy alone.