Combination therapy for advanced thyroid cancer with immunochemotherapeutic agents and Co60 irradiation

In this clinical study OK-432 and/or PSK and BCG preparation were used for potentiation of cell-mediated immunity, Mitomycin and/or Bleomycin and Carboquone for carcinostatic chemotherapeutics. Local and systemic administration of these agents and Co60 irradiation were applied in various combination for 5 patients with advanced thyroid papillary adeno-carcinoma. All patients except one showed remarkable reduction in the tumor size. The tumor reduction continued a variety of period from several months to years. In a 69-year-old woman her huge neck tumor necrotized and disappeared without any paticular untoward effects, and she is in complete remission at least for 2 years. The principal effect of OK-432 appeared to be on increase of cell-mediated immunity. The data suggests that OK-432 may be useful in combination with conventional carcinostatic chemotherapeutics and/or radiation. (author)