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A new approach in specific, active immunotherapy
Author(s) -
Wallack Marc K.,
Steplewski Ze,
Koprowski Hilary,
Rosato Ernest,
George Joan,
Hulihan Bridget,
Johnson Joan
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197702)39:2<560::aid-cncr2820390227>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - vaccinia , medicine , immune system , immunotherapy , immunology , cancer vaccine , cancer , virus , active immunotherapy , antigen , virology , biology , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna
A vaccinia virus‐lysed autochthonous tumor cell vaccine (vaccinia oncolysate) is introduced as a new specific, active immunotherapeutic agent against human cancer. Mouse experiments showed the vaccine to be a safe and potent immune mechanism stimulator. Human experimentation was undertaken in the knowledge of relative safety of the components of the vaccine, i.e. vaccinia vaccine and lysed, autochthonous tumor cells. Vaccine‐treated patients had advanced metastatic cancer but reacted to one or more common recall antigen skin tests. None of the 13 patients had untoward responses; 7/13 patients had classic delayed hypersenstivity reactions at the vaccine injection sites; and 2/7 patients with injection site reactions had significant reduction in tumor burden. These results indicate that this vaccine is a specific, active immune mechanism stimulator, and may prove to be a useful therapeutic agent in the treatment of human cancer.