Effect of a bleomycin derivative on oral carcinoma. A clinical and immunologic study of five cases

A new bleomycin derivative NK631 was administered in five cases of advanced recurrent oral carcinoma. The visible improvement of the tumor was noted in three cases, and in the cases of lower lip carcinoma the tumor completely disappeared, however, there was no effective change in cases of cervical metastases of the floor of the mouth and tongue carcinoma. The peripheral lymphocyte counts and serum proteins disclosed a characteristic decrease, serum proteins decreased in the albumin fraction and slightly increased in alpha 2-globlin fraction. Main side effects of NK 631 were skin exanthema, alopecia, anorexia, pyrexia, fatigue and bleeding from the tumor lesion. Regarding the lung function, the vital capacity did not change, but PaO and PaCO in blood gas analysis were together observed to slightly decrease, and it may be supposed that the influence of NK631 on the lung function cannot be neglected. T-cell ratio, lymphocyte blastoformation following PHA stimulation, PPD and DNCB skin tests, and phagocytosis test of peripheral leucocytes were studied. The immuno-suppressive effect of KK631 was the same or weak as bleomycin.