Immunological and patho-clinical observations of a patient with rectal carcinoma after long term administration of thymic extract (TFX).

TFX (Thymus Factor X) extract from calf thymuses, was given for the first time in Poland to the patient suffering from advanced rectal cancer with perforation to the peritoneal cavity, diffuse fecal peritonitis and multiple metastases to the liver. The immunological, clinical and histopathological observations of the patient for the period of 12 months of treatment are presented. The patient was given the biologically active thymus extract in the total amount of 14.2 mg in 34 subcutaneous injections initially in single dose of 0.1 mg and later on in amount of 0.5 mg. The remarkable restoration of the immunological reactivity of the patient from a total energy to the state of hyperreactivity has to be emphasized. It has been confirmed by the delayed hypersensitivity skin tests (Rt-23, PHA), the increase of the number of RFC (TEa and TEt rosette test with the SRBC), the diminishing of the autolymphocytotoxicity of the peripheral lymphocytes (evaluated by DTL) and also by the high level of the absolute number of circulating lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. The improvement of the clinical condition of the patient consisted in total regression of the inflammatory and functional changes in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and also in the renal function. The regular rectal endoscopic examinations of the patient revealed the diminished size of the tumor and its unusual appearance described as an induration and sharp delimitation from the surrounding tissues. The histological examinations performed 5 times during the observation period of 11 months revaled the essential changes in the structure of the growth: the marked increase of the stroma with the signs of active proliferation, foci calcification and ossification. These changes were interpreted as extremely rare in the rectal cancer stroma and are considered to represent dystrophic calcification at the neoplastic foci followed by ossification. It should be also pointed out that twelve months survival of the patient with advanced rectal cancer and multiple metastases to the liver represents an unusually long rate in comparison to that generally accepted in the literature for this grade of rectal cancer advancement.