Preliminary evaluation of intratumoral injection of a streptococcus pyrogenes preparation in patients with malignant brain tumors

Abstract

Thirteen patients with malignant brain tumors, 12 anaplastic gliomas and one metastatic tumor, received repeated intratumoral injections of an immunopotentiator, Picibanil, prepared from streptococcus pyogenes. All patients tolerated this therapy; morbidity rates were acceptable. Significant tumor regression was noted on computerized tomography scanning for 6 of 12 patients for whom scanning was performed. Histologic examination of the post-therapy specimens obtained from 8 patients revealed that inflammatory reactions were evoked in all of the tumors, although the extent of inflammatory changes varied from patient to patient and mostly was localized to an area surrounding the intratumoral tubes.