European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 3, 430-435, Copyright © 1989 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Immunotherapy as an adjuvant to surgery in carcinoma of bronchus. Results in three randomised trials
N Roeslin, P Dumont, G Morand, JM Wihlm and JP Witz
Department of Thoracic Surgery, C.H.U. de Strasbourg, France.
The results of non-specific immunotherapy adjuvant to surgery in the
treatment of non-small cell lung cancer were studied in three separate
randomised clinical trials involving 344 patients. The first study involved
126 patients. In 73, intrapleural BCG was given according to McKneally's
technique. They were compared to a control group of 63 patients. In the
second trial, levamisole was administered to 43 patients who, in addition
to surgery, also had radiotherapy. These were compared with 43 control
patients. In the third study, 60 patients underwent surgical operation for
limited lesions and in addition received Isoprinosine. These were compared
with a control group of 60 patients. All patients in the control groups of
the three studies had similar surgical operations to their treated
counterpart. The overall results showed no difference between those who
received immunotherapy and the control groups of patients and that the use
of these agents did not alter either the course of the disease or the
incidence of its recurrence.
