Combination chemotherapy and immune capacity in advanced ovarian carcinoma.

The effects of chemotherapy with either Chap-5 (a drug regimen consisting of adriamycin, cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II), hexamethylmelamine and cyclophosphamide) or Hexa CAF (a drug regimen consisting of methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, hexamethylmelamine and cyclophosphamide) on the immunocompetence of 22 patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma were studied. Both primary and secondary humoral and cellular immune responses in vivo were studied. In addition, the numbers of granulocytes, lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood were determined, as well as the levels of immunoglobulins and complement proteins. Furthermore, the proliferative capacity of lymphocytes, cytotoxic T-cell function, and K- and NK-cell activities were measured. The results indicate a depression of the primary humoral immune response in vivo in patients receiving Chap-5. Furthermore, a decrease of several parameters in vitro was observed. However, these alterations were only moderate and rapidly reversible.