Summary
The effectiveness of a nonspecific immunostimulation in related human or animal diseases incited us to do a study of nonspecific immunotherapy by BCG in Hodgkin's disease, and then in other malignant lymphomas. Seventy patients, each one fulfilling at least 2 criteria of poor prognosis, were initially put in complete remission by a combination of radio-chemotherapy, followed by a reinforcing chemotherapy. These patients were then randomized into two groups. The first group received no further treatment; the second received BCG in weekly cutaneous scarifications. Eight patients were excluded from the study. The rate of relapses is significantly lower in the treated group. The results are discussed. Other therapeutic studies are necessary to fix the indications and modalities of this immunotherapy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chauvergne, J., Durand, M., Hœrni, B., Hœrni-Simon, G., Brunet, R., Lagarde, C.: Induction chemotherapy of non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas. Europ. J. Cancer 12, 399 (1977)
Chauvergne, J., Hœrni, B., Durand, M., Hœrni-Simon, G., Lagarde, C.: Chimiothérapie des réticulosarcomes. Résultats d'un essai contrôlé portant sur 60 malades. Nouv. Presse méd. 2, 2039 (1973)
Chauvergne, J., Hœrni, B., Hœrni-Simon, G., Durand, M., Lagarde, C.: Chimiothérapie de la maladie de Hodgkin associant procarbazine, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide et méthylprednisolone. Analyse d'une série de 124 cures. Z. Krebsforsch. 80, 179 (1973)
Hœrni, B., Chauvergne, J., Hœrni-Simon, G., Durand, M., Brunet, R., Lagarde, C.: BCG in the immunotherapy of Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Results of a controlled trial including 60 patients. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 1, 109 (1976)
Hœrni, B., Chauvergne, J., Hœrni-Simon, G., Durand, M., Lagarde, C.: Immunothérapie non spécifique de la maladie de Hodgkin par BCG. Résultats préliminaires d'un essai contrôlé. Acta Haematol. 52, 214 (1974)
Hœrni, B., Giauque, E., Legrand, E.: Influence d'une immunisation spécifique et non spécifique sur le développement du lymphome SJL/J. C.R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 167, 1098 (1973)
Lennert, K., Stein, H., Kaiserling, E.: Cytological and functional criteria for the classification of malignant lymphomata. Brit. J. Cancer 31, Suppl. II, 29 (1975)
Lukes, R. J., Butler, J. J.: The pathology and nomenclature of Hodgkin's disease. Cancer Res. 26, 1063 (1966)
Magrath, I. T., Ziegler, J. L.: Failure of BCG immunostimulation to affect the clinical course of Burkitt's lymphoma. Brit. med. J. 1976 I, 615
Mathé, G., Amiel, J. L., Schwarzenberg, L., Schneider, M., Cattan, A., Schlumberger, J. R., Hayat, M., De Vassal, F.: Active immunotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Lancet 1969 I, 697
Mathé, G., Belpomme, D., Pouillart, P., Schwarzenberg, L., Misset, J. L., Jasmin, M. C., Musset, M., Cattan, A., Amiel, J. L., Schneider, M.: Preliminary results of an immunotherapy trial on terminal leukaemic lymphosarcoma. Biomedicine 23, 465 (1975)
Order, E. E., Chism, S. E., Hellman, S.: Studies of antigens associated with Hodgkin's disease. Blood 40, 621 (1972)
Sokal, J. E., Aungst, C. W., Snyderman, M.: Prolongation of remission in stage I and II lymphoma by BCG vaccination. Proc. Amer. Assoc. Cancer Res. 15, 13 (1974)
Sokal, J. E., Aungst, C. W., Snyderman, M.: Delay in progression of malignant lymphoma after BCG vaccination. New Engl. J. Med. 291, 1226 (1974)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communication to the Medical Oncology Society, Nice, December 7, 1976
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hœrni, B., Chauvergne, J., Hœrni-Simon, G. et al. BCG in the immunotherapy of malignant lymphomas. Cancer Immunol Immunother 3, 57–60 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199326
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00199326