Four patients at advanced stages of
cancer (Pts.#1 and #4; breast
adenocarcinoma, Pt.#2; rectal
adenocarcinoma, and Pt.#3;
adenocarcinoma possibly originated in the pancreas) received reinfusions of plasma perfused over
protein A columns (IMURé Corporation; Seattle, Wa., U.S.A.). The treatment schedule was essentially the same as was reported by "the
Protein A Clinical Trial Group" (Messerschmidt, G. L., et al.). Twice a week, patients received 230-250 ml of
protein A-treated plasma. No other anticancer modality was employed. Pt.#1 received only one treatment due to increased general malaise. Pts.#2 and #4 completed 12 and Pt.#3 received 13 plasma-
therapies. General malaise on the day after plasma return was a common untoward effect, which usually disappeared spontaneously in 48 hours. Pt.#2 experienced
chills during the first two plasma returns. Pt.#3 complained
dyspnea at the 6th treatment. Otherwise, no serious adverse effect was observed. No remarkable changes were obvious in the profile of daily blood chemistry.
Tumor ulcerated to the chest wall in Pt.#1 appeared to be dried and, in parts, to be edematous or have reduced the size 16 hours after the first plasma
therapy, while no changes were obvious in the skin adjacent to the
tumor. In Pts.#2 and #4, there appeared to be
tumors were isolated at palpation.
Ascites was reduced in Pt.#3. Increases in
tumor markers were retarded in Pts.#2 (CEA) and #4 (CA15-3). CA19-9 in Pts.#3 and #4 did not increase during the perfusion
therapy. Histology of
tumor obtained from Pt.#4 six weeks after completion of the protocol revealed disruption of the
tumor structure,
necrosis of the
tumor cells and increased deposit of fibrous materials. No objective reduction in the
tumor sizes was achieved in any of the patients, and the overall result was "PD". It appeared to be full of suggestions, however, that the autologous plasma in such amounts of 230 ml or 3,000 ml did, after extra-corporeal manipulation, cause some changes in the
tumor as were revealed by macroscopic and microscopic observations.