Abstract
The immunopotentiating agents including Maruyama Vaccine (SSM), BCG, picibanil and levamisole have been widely used for the treatment of malignant tumor (and autoimmune diseases) . The possible action mechanisms of these drugs have often been investigated in connection with lymphocytes. Recently, it has been shown that active oxygen (AO) generated by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) display strong antibacterial function and play an important role in the body's defense system. Furthermore, AO has been elucidated to show anti-tumor function, destroying DNA in cancer cells. In addition, the author verified that SSM increases AO generation by PMN in in vitro. In this study, the effect of SSM on nineteen patients with various terminal cancers was investigated, simultaneously with the determination of AO generation by their PMNs. There was no difference of survival rate between the patients with decreased AO generation and those who showed normal AO levels produced their PMNs, before the injection of SSM. However, the cases which responded to SSM by increasing AO generation showed statistically higher survival rate than those who did not increase AO generation by their PMNs following SSM administration. Especially, two patients who were treated with SSM alone could be alive for no less than 9-11 m after the use of SSM. These two cases also well responded to SSM to increase their AO generation. Based on the results obtained in the present study and my previous report, SSM, though its action mechanism against tumor growth has not been completely elucidated, seems to be effective in cancer, by enhancing phagocytic function of primary self defense as well as lymphocytic function of secondary self defense mechanism.
