[Autologous tumor therapy]

The dermatologist from Munich developed three differently called therapies; however, they basically show the same theory. They are the treatment with transoptin, tumor identification training for autologous immunocompetent cells (TI-TAI), and the autologous target cytokine (ATC) therapy. The ATC therapy is supposed to have a positive effect on all cancers and immunodeficiencies. Side effects are denied, although oncologists have noticed fatigue, fever, pain, lymphopenia, leukocytosis and others. The dermatologist supposedly establishes tumor cell and leukocyte cultures from blood and mixes them later on. The cytokines (ATC), produced by the lymphocytes, are harvested in 40 ampules and then subcutaneously injected. One cycle with the ATC therapy costs around 3000 DM. The dermatologist believes that tumor cells can only be immunologically identified during the dividing phase. He stimulates the cultured tumor cells to divide. At the same time he adds the autologous immunocompetent cells which should be trained to identify tumor cells and to produce cytokines. The dermatologist uses many terms unconventionally and imprecisely. The in-vitro training of lymphocytes for tumor defense with the method of the dermatologist is experimentally unproven. The production of the ATC preparations is kept secret. Also unclear are the mechanisms of action and the clinical efficacy. Besides neologisms, the dermatologist does not offer any scientific or clinical facts for his therapy of cancers.