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Biomedical subjects

G M Mavligit

Publications and source records attributed to G M Mavligit.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Receptor sites for complement and for immune complexes on human nonhemopoietic tumor cells.

Tumor cells in primary cultures derived from 11 untreated nonhemopoietic cancer patients were reacted with specifically coated sheep erythrocytes. Rosette formation between tumor and indicator cells was assessed, Eight of the primary cultures reacted positively with both IgG-coated (EAIgG) and with IgM-human complement coated (EAIgMC or EAIgMC 4,3) sheep erythrocytes. EAIgG rosette formation in positive cultures ranged from 25 to 85%, and for EAIgMC/EAIgMC 4,3 reactivity ranged between 22--95%. Rosette formation with E (uncoated) and EAIgM was negligible. These findings suggest that human nonhemopoietic tumor cells may carry on their surface receptor sites for an IgG component of immune complexes and for human complement. These receptor sites may be important in the host-tumor relationship.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1979

Immunotherapy with levamisole: early decrease of cAMP levels in lymphocytes from treated cancer patients.

Lymphocyte cyclic nucleotide content was studied before and after Levamisole administration to cancer patients. Twelve patients with disseminated cancer received 100 mg/m2 on two consecutive days; nine comparable patients with disseminated cancer served as controls. Endogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were measured in lymphocytes before, 24, and 48 hours after ingestion of the first dose of Levamisole. A statistically significant decline in lymphocyte cAMP level was observed after drug administration and no significant changes were noted in cGMP levels. Further studies will be necessary to correlate this biochemical change in cyclic nucleotides with modulation of the functional level of cellular immune mechanisms.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1979

The use of leukocyte cell line culture supernatant for skin reaction testing in malignant melanoma.

A study was conducted to determine some of the potential applications of a human leukocyte culture supernatant or "lymphokine" preparation in cancer patients. The application evaluated in this study was the use of this preparation as a skin test reagent for evaluation of the inflammatory response following intradermal injection. The preparation was derived from the supernatant of a long-term cultured lymphoblastoid cell line with migration inhibition factor (MIF) and other lymphokine activities. Dose response, histology and toxicity studies were done in 53 patients with malignant melanoma stage IIIB and IV. A dose response curve was observed for both erythema and induration at 12 and 24 hours, but not at 48 hours. An optimal intradermal dose for eliciting inflammation was determined and found to be five units. Histopathological evaluation of biopsy specimens showed a mixed cell reaction including granulocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes differing in lymphocyte content from the classical delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in man. Compared with the response to recall antigens, only a weak correlation with the DTH response to the recall antigens was found. Our results support the conclusion that lymphokines may be used in the future to evaluate the ability to develop nonspecific inflammation in cancer patients, and that this inflammatory response can be obtained in a number of patients no longer capable of responding to recall antigens.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site: a clinico-pathological study.

An analysis of the clinico-pathological findings in 49 patients with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary origin indicates a short survival time. No factors were identified that influenced survival. Thromboembolic episodes and second primary tumors commonly complicate the clinical course. Metastases in widespread organs are common autopsy findings. Immunological mechanisms may explain these findings.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1978

Reversible elevation of plasma CEA associated with iatrogenic unilateral hydronephrosis in a patient operated for colorectal cancer.

A patient is reported with progressively rising plasma levels of CEA in association with iatrogenic, unilateral hydronephrosis, subsequent to surgery for colorectal cancer. The CEA level returned to normal with spontaneous recovery of the hydronephrosis. The knowledge of this association should serve as an additional guideline when a "second-look" operation is being considered in colorectal cancer patients (who have been previously rendered free of disease by pelvic surgery) when plasma CEA begins to rise progressively.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen↗
PubMed1978

Sequential chemoimmunotherapy of colorectal cancer: evaluation of methotrexate, Baker's Antifol and levamisole.

Fifty-two untreated patients with colorectal cancer were randomized to receive 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alternating either with methotrexate (MTX) or Baker's Antifol (BAF) with or without the immunostimulant, levamisole (Program I). Fifty-five patients who had received prior treatment were randomized to receive methyl-CCNU (Me) with MTX or BAF (Program II). Fifteen of these patients had failed to respond to initial therapy with 5-FU plus MTX or BAF and subsequently received Me plus the alternate antifol. Overall response rate for each of programs I and II was 10%. The responses were 1/11 with 5-FU-MTX plus levamisole, 2/12 with 5-FU-MTX, 1/8 with 5-FU-BAF plus levamisole, 0/8 with 5-FU-BAF, 2/20 with Me-MTX and 2/21 with Me-BAF. The median survival times (MST) for patients receiving Programs I and II were 10 and 5 months, respectively. The MST for all patients receiving MTX was significantly longer than that of patients receiving BAF Survival was not influenced by levamisole administration. Both chemotherapy programs were well tolerated. The sequential administration of 4 active agents failed to improve the results of treatment of colorectal cancer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

In vitro antitumor reactivity of mononuclear leukocytes from cancer patients receiving immunotherapy with BCG.

Mononuclear cell-mediated cytotoxicity (MCMC) against cultured tumor target cells was studied sequentially in melanoma and breast cancer patients before and during BGC administration. MCMC showed temporary fluctuations. In patients with locally advanced melanoma and carcinoma of the breast after tumor load reduction, the administration of BCG may increase the MCMC. This did not always correlate with a favorable clinical course. Potentiating serum factors appeared in 50% of these patients during BCG therapy, while blocking factors were rare. Neither correlated with prognosis. In patients with disseminated melanoma receiving chemoimmunotherapy, increases in MCMC may be related to clinical course. Blocking serum factors frequently developed in this group of patients and potentiating factors were rare. Neither correlated with the clinical course. Significant MCMC among normal donors and the apparent lack of specificity suggest a common nonspecific (? natural) cellular reactivity against cultured tumor target cells.

BCG Vaccine↗
PubMed1978

Chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy of colorectal cancer. Role of the carcinoembryonic antigen.

The current status of treatment for patients with colorectal cancer is suboptimal. Although approximately 80% of patients are amenable to surgery, cure is only possible for 40%. Survival of patients is closely related to disease staging at the time of surgery, being poorer for patients presenting with locally advanced disease or with distant metastases. Patients who undergo curative resections and are categorized as having a high risk of developing recurrence, such as those with regionally involved lymph nodes, should be subjected to studies of adjuvant therapy. Although the definite role of such studies is still under evaluation, there already exist studies of chemotherapy with 5FU, chemoimmunotherapy with 5FU-BCG, and radiation therapy, suggesting the beneficial effect of these treatment modalities based on prolongation of the disease-free interval and survival of patients. The status of available treatments for patients with advanced disease is poor. There exists no single or multidrug regimen capable of producing significant tumor regression to improve the patient's quality of life and survival. Accordingly, the active clinical investigation of newer and potentially effective chemotherapeutic agents should continue. The role of present immunotherapy is not fully determined, although several studies suggest its potential usefulness in the adjuvant and the advanced situations. Serial determinations of CEA are extremely helpful in the postsurgical monitoring of patients receiving adjuvant treatments and also in the follow-up of patients undergoing therapy for overt metastatic disease.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1978

Suppressor cell activity in cancer patients: a possible role for thymic hormones.

We have identified the presence of suppressor cell activity in the peripheral blood of immunosuppressed stage IV cancer patients. The patients' cells had a diminished mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and suppressed the PHA mitogenic response of a normal donor's peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Thus, PBL from a cancer patient whose PHA mitogenic response was 3932 counts per minute (cpm), cultured together with a normal donor's PBL with a PHA mitogenic response of 82,865 net cpm, caused a greater than 50% reduction in the latter (37,651 net cpm). Suppressor cell activity was present in 12 of 14 patients tested. This effect was partially mitigated by irradiation with 4000 rads in nine of 14 patients. Preincubation of the patients' cells with thymosin followed by the addition of thymosin to the co-cultured cells mitigated the suppressor activity in five of ten patients and thymic humoral factor did the same in four of 11 patients. A radiosensitive and thymic hormone-responsive suppressor cell may be present in the peripheral blood of cancer patients. Confirmation of this preliminary observation and further characterization of the cell or cells is currently being undertaken.

Female↗
PubMed1977

Prognostic significance of vascular invasion in colorectal cancer of Dukes' B class.

To further characterize important prognostic factors in colorectal cancer of the Dukes' B class the pathologic material from 143 Dukes' B patients was reviewed for the presence of lymphatic and/or blood vessel invasion and correlated with the postoperative tumor-free interval and overall length of survival. In 27 patients with vascular invasion within the bowel wall, both the tumor-free interval and the overall survival time were not significantly different from the same parameters in 116 patients without vascular invasion (P = 0.28, P = 0.12 respectively). These data suggest that vascular invasion within the bowel wall per se is not an important prognostic factor among patients with colorectal cancer of the Dukes' B class.

Blood Vessels↗
PubMed1977

Histiocytic lymphoma in the brain as the only manifestation of relapse following remission maintainance with BCG immunotherapy.

This report describes an unusual case of lymphoma which, after 54 months of complete remission induced with chemotherapy and maintained with BCG immunotherapy, relapsed in the brain alone. It is possible that the immunotherapy led to this pattern of relapse: this is supported by several other studies. The difficulty in diagnosing brain lymphoma is emphasized.

BCG Vaccine↗
PubMed1977

Adjuvant immunotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy in colorectal cancer (Dukes' class C): prolongation of disease-free interval and survival.

The poor postsurgical prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer of the Dukes' C classification has prompted a clinical trial of adjuvant immunotherapy versus chemoimmunotherapy intended to prolong either the disease-free interval or the overall survival or both. One hundred and twenty-one patients have been entered on this study. Fifty-two patients received BCG alone and 69 patients received the combination of 5-FU and BCG. The disease-free interval and the overall survival were compared with similar parameters in a group of historical controls with similar prognostic characteristics who were operated on in our institution prior to the initiation of the current study. There was no difference as yet between BCG alone and the combination of 5-FU + BCG in terms of both the disease-free interval and the survival. Both treatments, however, had significantly better results than the surgical controls. Adjuvant therapy, especially with BCG is advocated for patients with colorectal carcinoma, Dukes' C class, following potentially curative surgery.

BCG Vaccine↗