Immunotherapy of malignancy in humans. Current status.

Many observations support the premise of a close relationship between immunologic competency and the growth of human cancer. Immunotherapy against cancer in animals has been established. Its function appears to be adjunctive to other treatment modalities that first lower tumor burden. These findings are demonstrated in both clinical and laboratory studies of cancer in humans. At the present time, intralesional injections of BCG vaccine in immunocompetent patients with intradermal metastases are most effective. Immunotherapy with topical administration of 2,4 dinitrochlorobenzene is the treatment of choice in selected patients with squamous or basal cell carcinoma.