Specific Active Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer: The Induction of Long-Lasting Cellular Responses to Tumour-Associated Antigens

Abstract

In this report we give details of skin tests with soluble tumour-associated antigens in patients entered into the phase II trial of stage I lung cancer patients in Ottawa. We show that in non-immunized patients a weak positive reaction to such antigens following surgery is a favourable sign. Strong reactions in the group which received immunochemotherapy are associated with fewer failures than in the group which received immunization alone which had weak to moderate reactions. Strong delayed hypersensitivity reactions can be induced that endure more than 5 years. If such reactions indicate resistance to tumour growth, as in animal systems, then prophylactic immunization of healthy adults who are at high risk of developing lung cancer would be expected to reduce the incidence of the disease.