Advanced ovarian cancer treated by intraperitoneal immunotherapy with OK-432.

Twelve patients with advanced ovarian cancer with ascites were treated by intraperitoneal immunotherapy with OK-432 in combination with surgery and systemic immunochemotherapy. The median time for total resolution of ascites after the OK-432 injection was 7.1 days. In three of the four patients who died, it took more than the average number of days for the ascites to disappear. The ascites index, the ratio of the ascitic fluid volumes before and after intraperitoneal immunotherapy, was significantly higher in the patients who died than in those who survived. The side effects of intraperitoneal administration of OK-432 varied, but were not serious and relief was not needed in most cases. Intraperitoneal injection of OK-432 was considered effective in preventing the reappearance of ascites in these cases of advanced ovarian cancer, and the ascites index was believed to be related to the prognosis.