Clinical experience in the use of C. parvum in the treatment of locally advanced carcinoma of the breast.

Twenty-one patients with locally advanced breast cancer which had failed to respond to conventional therapy have been treated by infusion of C. parvum (strain CN 6134, Wellcome Research Laboratories) in 5% Dextrose. Thirteen patients had a single dose of 15 mg. C. parvum over 4 h and 8 patients received 5 daily infusions of 4 mg C. parvum over 1 h. In 3 patients there was some evidence of tumour regression. Pyrexia, often associated with rigors, headaches, vomiting and variations in blood pressure occurred in most patients receiving either schedule, although the severity of the side effects decreased daily in those receiving 5 treatments. One patient became comatose within 24 h of treatment and died two weeks later. Progressive swelling of the arm on the side of the tumour and inflammation of the primary lesion were prominent in those receiving 5 daily treatments. These results show that caution must be exercised in the clinical use of C. parvum and the search for an ideal schedule should continue.