Multidisciplinary treatment of head and neck cancer using BCG, OK-432, and GE-132 as biologic response modifiers.

Abstract

Since 1979, we have performed multidisciplinary treatment using intensive immunotherapy with biologic response modifiers (BRM) in combination with surgical treatment of oral cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy were also included as part of the therapy. A historic control study was performed. Adjuvant therapy was administered by standardized methods, and the distribution of patients at various stages was similar between groups. The immunotherapy group showed a shorter treatment period, lower rates of recurrence, metastases, and side effects, greater histologic effects at the end of the first treatment, and a higher survival rate than the nonimmunotherapy group. Immunologically, immunotherapy tended to promote positive immune reactions and inhibit negative immune reactions.