Elsevier

European Journal of Cancer

Volume 32, Issue 10, September 1996, Pages 1712-1718
European Journal of Cancer

Original paper
Phase II trial of intravenous endotoxin in patients with colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer

https://doi.org/10.1016/0959-8049(96)00186-4Get rights and content

Abstract

We report the immunological and clinical results of a phase II trial with intravenously administered highly purified endotoxin (Salmonella abortus equi) in patients with advanced cancer. 15 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and 27 with colorectal cancer were entered into the study. 37 evaluable patients received at least four injections of endotoxin (4 ng/kg body weight) and 1600 mg ibuprofen orally in 2-week intervals. Transient renal (WHO grade 0–1) and hepatic (WHO grade 0–4) toxicities occurred in several patients. Constitutional side-effects such as fever, chills and hypotension could not be prevented completely by pretreatment with ibuprofen. 3 patients in the colorectal cancer group demonstrated objective responses (1 complete remission (CR), 2 partial remission (PR)). The complete remission has been maintained for more than 3 years, while the partial remissions were stable for 7 and 8 months, respectively. Only marginal antitumour effects were seen in the lung cancer group. Tolerance of the macrophage system to the stimulatory effect of endotoxin, as measured by human necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) release into serum, built up after the first administration and remained at a steady-state level after each subsequent injection. In contrast, rising CD4:CD8 ratio and release of tumour necrosis factor beta (TNF-β) indicated the continuing activation of the lymphocyte system by repetitive injections of endotoxin.

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