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Successful Maintenance Immunotherapy by BCG of Non‐Hodgkin's Malignant Lymphomas: Results of a Controlled Trial *
Author(s) -
Hœrni B.,
Durand M.,
Richaud P.,
Mascarel A.,
HœrniSimon G.,
Chauvergne J.,
Lagarde C.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1979.tb01163.x
Subject(s) - immunotherapy , medicine , oncology , lymphoma , immunology , immune system
S ummary . Forty‐eight patients less than 65 years old, suffering non‐Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas with one or more criteria of poor prognosis, were priorly placed in complete remission by an association of chemo+radio+chemotherapy. They were then randomized to receive either BCG in weekly scarifications for 3 years or no further treatment. Five patients were excluded (four after pathological reassessment); 43 are thus evaluable. There were 13 relapses out of 23 control patients and three relapses out of 20 treated patients (0.01< P <0.025). This differenceis more distinct for clinical stages I and II (0.01< P <0.025) than for stages III and IV (not significant). Eight patients died in the control group whereas there was only one death in the treated group (0.025< P <0.05). These results indicate that BCG is useful in maintaining remission in about 40% of the cases and also in increasing their survival, especially in patients with clinical stages I or II.