The endogenous induction of tumor necrosis factor serum (TNS) for the adjuvant postoperative immunotherapy of cancer--changes in immunological markers of the blood.

The endogenous induction of tumor necrosis factor serum (TNS) for cancer immunotherapy was undertaken in the immediate postoperative period using Lentinan as the primer and OK-432 as the inducer. The changes in several immunological markers of the blood were assayed and compared with a control group to clarify the effects of this treatment. Plasma TNF-alpha levels were elevated two to three hours after eliciting treatment. The neutrophil count was elevated on the 7th postoperative day (POD) and the natural killer (NK) cell activity was transiently suppressed on the 1st POD, but NK cells possessing a high activity (Leu7-CD16+) were preserved until the 7th POD. Helper/inducer (CD4+) and killer cells (CD8+ CD11-) tended to increase, and suppressor (CD8 bright+ CD11+) cells tended to decrease in the induction group. There was no difference in the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) between the groups, but a marked elevation of interferon-gamma was evident on the 1st POD in the induction group. This treatment may be useful as postoperative adjuvant immunotherapy for cancer due to its ability to induce cytokines and activate host immune mechanisms.