Treatment of advanced cancer with active immunization

Abstract

Forty-two patients with advanced cancer of various types were actively immunized with autologous tumor coupled to rabbit gamma-globulin. Only one of the 36 evaluable patients had objective evidence of tumor regression. A partial immunologic survey showed no evidence of delayed hypersensitivity and minimal evidence of humoral antibodies to tumor extract. Toxicity was limited to local immediate hypersensitivity reactions to rabbit gamma-globulin and granulomatous nodules at the site of the intradermal vaccine inoculations. There was no evidence of tumor growth enhancement. This therapeutic approach of active tumor immunization did not enhance an immunologic tumor rejection mechanism.