Abstract
The clinical effects of intratumor injections of OK-432 given to patients with advanced oromaxillary squamous cell carcinoma were studied in 10 cases.
Furthermore, SCC antigen level and O-2 generation from peripheral neutrophils were evaluated according to clinical courses after the injections. The results were as follows: Four cases were effective, but six cases were shown ineffective. Intratumor injection of OK-432 with high dose, accompained by irradiation and salvage therapy, was proven very effective in a stage III case of maxillary sinus cancer. The tumor mass disappeared rapidly and the patient has been in remission for seven years and five months. However, local injections given to progressive cases with remote and/or regional lymphnode's metastases were not as effective. The cases with severe cachexy didn't show any beneficial reaction to OK-432.O-2 generation from peripheral neutrophils was suppressed and showed no increasing tendencies in these cases. The side effects from a large quantity of intratumor injections caused elevated fevers (38-40°C) and chills in all patients, loss of appetite in eight, fatigue in two, headache in one, and a reversible mental disorder in one case, also.
