[Immunomodulatory effect of daily low-dose cisplatin treatment]

Immunomodulatory effects of daily low-dose cisplatin treatment were investigated on compromised patients with advanced or recurrent gastrointestinal cancer. One case of esophageal cancer, 7 of gastric cancer, 2 of colorectal cancer, 1 of carcinomatous peritonitis from unknown origin, and 1 of hepatocellular carcinoma, were treated by daily low-dose cisplatin combined with 5-FU or tegafur, and their ECOG Performance Status Score (PS), number of lymphocytes, and CD3 zeta chain expression of peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied to compare with the effects of treatment. Seven patients with esophageal cancer and gastric cancer showed a partial response and their PS was improved, and the number of lymphocytes and CD3 zeta chain expression of lymphocytes was increased. However, in two patients with progressive disease, a decreased number of lymphocytes and less expression of CD3 zeta chain were seen.