Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 15, 2026
Coculture Assays to Study Macrophage and Microglia Stimulation of Glioblastoma Invasion
Published on: October 20, 2016
Randomized phase I/II trial of a macrophage-specific immunomodulator (PGG-glucan) in high-risk surgical patients
T J Babineau1, P Marcello, W Swails
1Department of Surgery, Deaconess Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Objective:
The safety and efficacy of PGG-glucan in surgical patients at high risk for postoperative infection who underwent major thoracic or abdominal surgery were determined.
Summary Background Data:
Recent studies have reported a 25% to 27% infectious complication rate in patients undergoing major surgery with an average cost per infected patient of $12,000. The efficacy of PGG-glucan pretreatment in prevention of sepsis has been demonstrated in rodent models for gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial and yeast infections. In vitro studies have demonstrated enhanced microbial killing by monocytes and neutrophils in healthy volunteers after PGG-glucan administration. Thus, PGG-glucan may play a role in decreasing the infectious complication rate in patients undergoing major surgery.
Methods:
A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study was performed in 34 high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal or thoracic surgery.
Results:
There were no adverse drug experiences associated with PGG-glucan infusion. Patients who received PGG-glucan had significantly fewer infectious complications (3.4 infections per infected patient vs. 1.4 infections per infected patient, p = 0.05), decreased intravenous antibiotic requirement (10.3 days vs. 0.4 days, p = 0.04) and shorter intensive care unit length of stay (3.3 days vs. 0.1 days, p = 0.03).
Conclusions:
PGG-glucan is safe and appears to be effective in the further reduction of the morbidity and cost of major surgery.
Insights
PGG-glucan is safe and effective for reducing postoperative infections in high-risk surgical patients. This immunotherapy significantly decreased infectious complications, antibiotic use, and ICU stays, lowering overall morbidity and costs.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Surgical Infectious Diseases
Background:
- High-risk surgical patients face significant infectious complication rates (25-27%) and associated costs ($12,000 per patient).
- Preclinical studies show PGG-glucan's efficacy in preventing sepsis and enhancing immune cell function against various pathogens.
- PGG-glucan demonstrates potential for reducing surgical infectious complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the safety and efficacy of PGG-glucan in high-risk patients undergoing major thoracic or abdominal surgery.
- To evaluate PGG-glucan's impact on postoperative infection rates and associated clinical outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study was conducted.
- 34 high-risk patients undergoing major abdominal or thoracic surgery were enrolled.
Main Results:
- No adverse drug experiences were reported with PGG-glucan infusion.
- Patients receiving PGG-glucan experienced significantly fewer infectious complications (1.4 vs. 3.4 infections per patient, p=0.05).
- PGG-glucan treatment led to decreased antibiotic requirements (0.4 vs. 10.3 days, p=0.04) and shorter ICU stays (0.1 vs. 3.3 days, p=0.03).
Conclusions:
- PGG-glucan is safe for use in high-risk surgical patients.
- PGG-glucan appears effective in further reducing morbidity and costs associated with major surgery.
