Related Experiment Videos
Clinical trials of transfer factor in malignancy
1Paul M. Aggelar Memorial Laboratory, Children's Hospital of San Francisco, California 94118.
Journal of Experimental Pathology
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Transfer factor therapy for cancer shows variable results, with some studies reporting benefits and others showing no effect or even negative trends. Further research requires standardized products for reliable evaluation of transfer factor in malignancy treatment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Transfer factor therapy has been investigated for various malignancies with inconsistent outcomes.
- Previous studies, both randomized and non-randomized, have reported a wide range of clinical benefits, from no effect to improved survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze the existing literature on transfer factor therapy in malignancies.
- To identify factors influencing the variable outcomes of transfer factor treatment in cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of non-randomized and randomized clinical trials evaluating transfer factor therapy in cancer.
- Analysis of study designs, patient populations, tumor types, and treatment variables.
Main Results:
- Clinical benefit reported in approximately one-third of patients in non-randomized trials.
- Randomized studies show mixed results, with some claiming benefits and others reporting no significant effect or negative trends.
- Significant variability in trial designs, tumor types, patient disease states, prior therapies, and transfer factor preparation methods complicates outcome interpretation.
Conclusions:
- Transfer factor therapy's efficacy in malignancy is uncertain, and it is unlikely to be a standalone dramatic treatment.
- Transfer factor may potentially serve as an adjuvant therapy alongside surgery, irradiation, or chemotherapy.
- Standardized, reproducible transfer factor products and rigorous quality control are essential for future reliable clinical evaluation.