[Studies on the possibility of immunoprophylaxis of carcinoma]

The extremely high mortality rate of cancer requires every effort to avoid or decrease the incidence of malignant diseases. In this paper the possibility of an immuno-prophylaxis of carcinoma is discussed. A study was undertaken, whether or not the incidence of carcinoma is decreased in patients after the change of the status of immunity developed by typhus. In the years after the war (1945-1947) over 5400 patients suffering from typhus had been reported in Vienna (according to the law in Austria) and about 600 died from this disease. In 1967 more than 2800 could be determined still alive and 535 had died in the meantime. The mortality rate of cancer was calculated and compared in age- und sex-adjusted groups with the relative cancer mortality rate of the whole population of Vienna in the average of the years 1959-1963. The statistical evaluation shows a lower cancer mortality of patients suffering from typhus at an earlier time. This difference seems to be significant (chi 2test, p less than 0.05) in women of the age group 30-50 and in men 35-65 years of age. Additionally in two regions of Austria (Oberösterreich, Burgenland) similar observations were made, but with no statistical significance because of the small numbers. Some diagnostic insecurities during war time require the restriction of conclusions. On the basis of clinical observations and results from animal experiments the possibility of an immuno-prophylaxis of carcinoma by unspecific stimulation of the defensive mechanism is supposed, and a prospective study of volunteers, whose level of defense is kept optimal by adequate frequent repetition of the stimulation, is suggested. The incidence of carcinoma of volunteers would have to be compared to a control group.