Effect of immunochemotherapy on lymphocyte response of patients with gastrointestinal cancer

Patients with gastrointestinal cancer were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in combination with a streptococcal preparation, OK-432, or without OK-432 before operation, and lymphocyte response to PHA was examined. Oral administration of 5-FU with or without intramuscular injection of OK-432 did not affect the response. However, treatment with cytostatic drugs in combination with OK-432 markedly augmented the lymphocyte response to PHA, but the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes was not elevated.