Effect of splenectomy and immunotherapy on advanced gastric cancer associated with total gastrectomy.

Immunotherapy with levamisole (LMS) and combined splenectomy were performed in the cases of stages III and IV gastric cancer of the upper and middle stomach and associated with total gastrectomy. The cell-mediated immunity and the survival rates for both groups were compared with controls. Combined splenectomy was not effective for cases of stage III gastric cancer, but was effective for those in stage IV. Comparing the cumulative survival rates of the immunotherapy group with the controls, cases of stages III and IV gastric cancer without splenectomy, the survival rate of those with immunotherapy was higher than that of the control group in the cases of the stage III, but the result was reverse in cases of stage IV gastric cancer. Changes in the cell-mediated immunity correlated with the survival rates.