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Placebo controlled pneumococcal immunization in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma
European Journal of Cancer & Clinical Oncology
|July 1, 1986
Summary
The heptadecavalent pneumococcal vaccine (Moniarix) showed no significant clinical benefit in preventing infections in lung cancer patients. However, it did elicit a stronger antibody response against specific pneumococcal serotypes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Patients with bronchogenic carcinoma (lung cancer) are often immunocompromised, increasing their risk of infections.
- Pneumococcal infections can lead to severe complications, including fatal bacteremia, in vulnerable populations.
- Evaluating vaccine efficacy in cancer patients is crucial for improving supportive care and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the clinical efficacy of the heptadecavalent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine (Moniarix) in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.
- To evaluate the immunogenicity of Moniarix by measuring antibody responses to included pneumococcal serotypes.
- To compare the incidence of pneumococcal infections in vaccinated patients versus those receiving a placebo.
Main Methods:
- A randomized trial involving 26 patients receiving Moniarix and 21 patients receiving a placebo.
- Most participants had not undergone prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
- Clinical outcomes, including pneumococcal infections and fatal bacteremia, were monitored. Antibody responses were measured.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in clinical outcomes was observed between the vaccine and placebo groups.
- Pneumococcal infections occurred in 11.5% of vaccinated patients (1 fatal bacteremia) and 19% of placebo recipients (1 fatal bacteremia).
- The heptadecavalent pneumococcal vaccine significantly increased antibody responses for multiple serotypes (1, 2, 7F, 8, 9N, 12F, 14, 17F, 18C, 23F, and 25).
Conclusions:
- The heptadecavalent pneumococcal vaccine (Moniarix) did not demonstrate a significant clinical benefit in reducing pneumococcal infections in this cohort of lung cancer patients.
- Despite the lack of clinical efficacy in this study, the vaccine successfully induced a robust antibody response against several key pneumococcal serotypes.
- Further research may be needed to determine the role of pneumococcal vaccination in specific subgroups of cancer patients or at different stages of treatment.