Abstract
Levamisole, one of immunopotentiators, was prescribed for 48 patients with maxillary cancer and 1 with carcinoma of the oral floor, from Sept., 1976. Skin sensitivity tests, including DNCB, PPD and PHA, were performed before the administration of levamisole, and we found that the patients showed a negative response to more than one antigen.
In addition to surgery radiation therapy and/or regional chemotherapy, levamisole, 2.1g on the average, was administered to the patients for 3 months. Increase in the skin sensitivity of these patients, after 3 months, was compared with that of the patients with benign sinus disease who underwent on antrotomy. It was found that increase in skin sensitivity was significantly lower in the cancerous patients with DNCB and PPD (under 64 years old), but no significant difference was observed with PHA and PPD in those over 65 yrs.
Clinical process in the levamisole ingesting patients was good, although such was not necessarily related to the change of the skin sensitivity response, and aggravation or metastasis of the primary foci was not seen in 30 out of 34 under 64 years old, and 11 out of 13 over 65 yrs.
Recurrent ratio after levamisole administration was compared using the PHA skin sensitivity test, and we found that the recurrent ratio (more than twice) was significantly lower in the stimulated group (2 cases out of 19, 11%) than in the reduced group (6 cases out of 14, 43%).
