Abstract
Bestatin, a new immunopotentiator, was used against malignant tumors of the head and neck.
It was administered alone in dosage of 100mg daily at early morning fasting time for 2 weeks prior to the initiation of active cancer therapy, and immunity before its administrations was compared with that at the end of 2-week treatment. The series contained 11 cases, 1 case of reticulum cell sarcoma and the others of squamous cell carcinoma. Only one recurrent case was included. Lymphocyte count increased in 5 cases, T cell % increased in 7 cases, and response to PPD was enhanced in 8 cases. The values for lymphocyte count, T cell % and PPD test all increased in 5 cases. Since patients received no concomitant treatment, the above results can be taken to indicate that Bestatin enhanced immunity. None of the patients presented hepatic or renal function abnormality that would have required withdrawal of Bestatin.
Immunity before its administrations was then compared with that determined 1-2 months after the termination of active cancer therapy. This series contained 12 cases of squamous cell carcinoma including 2 recurrent cases. Lymphocyte count increased in 8 cases, T cell % increased in 5 cases, and response to PPD was enhanced in all the cases. The resumption of therapy was needed only in 3 cases. Decreases in lymphocyte count, T cell % and response to PPD were not observed in spite of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery in 4 cases, and post-treatment progresses were good. In cases where lymphocytes, etc. decreased, the values tended to rise, which gave an impression that Bestatin stimulated the anti-tumor immunity.
