Immunotherapy of human lung cancer with BCG cell-wall skeleton

Effect of BCG cell-wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) on the recovery of responsiveness of lymphocytes and the survival period was studied in patients with lung cancer. (a) Responsiveness of lymphocytes as demonstrated by proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or microcytotoxicity test with cultured cells of a bronchogenic carcinoma was depressed in the patients at later stages of cancer and it was restored by treatment with BCG-CWS in many of such patients. (b) Survival period of the patients at later stages such as III or IV was prolonged by treatment with BCG-CWS. Such an effect was detected even in the patients with carcinomatous pleuritis. (c) A close correlation was found between the reactivity such as PHA response or cytotoxicity and clinical course of the patients given BCG-CWS. Assay system with PHA response and microcytotoxicity test appears to be reliable in anticipating the prognosis and in following clinical course after the BCG-CWS treatment.