Value of immune monitoring in gynecologic cancer patients receiving immunotherapy

Abstract

Immunotherapy with nonspecific immunopotentiators such as Corynebacterium parvum is under study in several areas of gynecologic oncology. The efficacy of this new modality awaits the results of carefully done clinical trials designed to measure an improved effect on survival when this and similar agents are added to conventional therapy. This report deals with an attempt to demonstrate enhancement of the cell-mediated immune response in a small number of patients with advanced ovarian (18 patients) and cervical (12 patients) cancer who were treated with intravenous C. parvum in addition to either chemotherapy (Alkeran) or pelvic radiotherapy. Monitoring of the immune response was accomplished by skin testing, T-lymphocyte rosettes, B-lymphocyte rosettes, simulation of lymphocytes with mitogens (PHA and Con-A) and total lymphocyte counts. No distinct improvement in these parameters could be demonstrated as a result of immunotherapy with C. parvum. These results and the value of immune monitoring as currently performed are discussed.