[Preoperative immunochemotherapy for gastric cancer patients--immunomodulating effect of levamisole and lentinan on cell-mediated immunity and regional lymph node].

The effects of two immunomodulators, levamisole and lentinan, on cell-mediated immunity and regional lymph nodes of patients with gastric cancer were studied, including reference to some literature. 1) The counts of active T-cells and total T-cells in the peripheral blood showed a tendency of increase after administration of levamisole. 2) PHA lymphocyte blastoformation in the peripheral blood with and without autoserum was enhanced by the administration of levamisole and lentinan. 3) The percentage of active T-cells and PHA lymphocyte blastoformation in the peripheral blood with and without autoserum in proximal regional lymph nodes were increased by the administration of levamisole and lentinan. 4) The percentage of active T-cells and PHA lymphocyte blastoformation in the peripheral blood with and without autoserum in distal regional lymph nodes were increased by the administration of levamisole. 5) Postoperative depression of PHA and PPD skin tests was enhanced by preoperative administration of levamisole, and that of PHA skin test was enhanced by the administration of lentinan.