For the first time since the introduction of female sex hormone treatment of carcinoma of the prostate, an entirely new therapeutic approach was tried, i.e., specific immune therapy in the form of chessboard vaccination. With this method, and continuation of hormone therapy, inactivated cancerous cells were injected with neuraminidase intracutaneously into the thigh. Should hormone therapy prove ineffective, a long-term therapeutic effect can be achieved in approximately half of the patients by giving three vaccinations containing 44,400,000 cells. The effectiveness of specific immunotherapy in the form of chessboard vaccinations could be established on the basis of a significant drop in serum phosphatases and carcinoembryonic antigen under therapy, the scintigraphic evidence of remission of osteometastases and not least of all a statistically significant increase in the survival rate during treatment of unconfined metastasizing prostate carcinomas. Even in early stages specific immunotherapy constitutes a new alternative therapeutic method, particularly in the treatment of hormone-independent prostate carcinomas and in cases of estrogen intolerance.

Keywords:
Specific immune therapy, Prostate carcinoma, Chessboard vaccination, Neuraminidase, Survival rate
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1983 S. Karger AG, Basel
1983
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.