Immunodulation of cancer—bearing hosts by double filtration plasmapheresis and glass beads adsorbent

Abstract

It is well recognized that plasmapheresis (PE) or double filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) may play a role on improving the depressed tumor-survillance system and enhancing the effects of chemoimmunotherapy by removal of various immunosuppressive factors in cancerpatient plasma. Our present study indicates that PHA inhibitory factor and NK inhibitory factor are effectively removed only by DFPP and that IAP, α-AT and IL2 inhibitor which can not be removed by DFPP system can be removed by multiporous glass beads adsorbents (100Å). 14 out of 28 patients treated with DFPP showed the improvement of subjective symptomeso These results suggest that DFPP plus aggressive chemoimmunotherapy should be needed for more useful adjunct therapy of far-advanced cancer patients.