Levamisole in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

One hundred and thirty-four patients (118 males and 16 females) with epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck were studied. After treatment of the primary lesion, they were randomized into two groups: 69 received levamisole, 150 mg/day orally for 3 consecutive days every other week, and 65 received...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCancer treatment reports Vol. 63; no. 6; p. 983
Main Authors Olivari, A J, Glait, H M, Guardo, A, Califano, L, Pradier, R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.06.1979
Subjects
Adult
Aged
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - immunology
Clinical Trials as Topic
Dinitrochlorobenzene - immunology
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy
Head and Neck Neoplasms - immunology
Humans
Immunity - drug effects
In Vitro Techniques
Levamisole - therapeutic use
Lymphocyte Activation
Male
Middle Aged
Recurrence
Skin Tests
Time Factors
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Summary:One hundred and thirty-four patients (118 males and 16 females) with epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck were studied. After treatment of the primary lesion, they were randomized into two groups: 69 received levamisole, 150 mg/day orally for 3 consecutive days every other week, and 65 received placebo. Immune status was also evaluated. Positive reactions to dinitrochlorobenzene increased significantly after primary tumor therapy in both levamisole- and placebo-treated patients. There were no significant differences in immune responses between the two groups, except in recall antigen reactivity, which was decreased in both groups overall recurrence and death rates at 36 months did not differ between the two groups of patients. However, stage I and II patients treated with levamisole had a significantly higher incidence of recurrence than the placebo-treated patients (P less than 0.02), while there was some evidence that levamisole-treated stage IV patients did better. It is concluded that the overall outcome in patients with squamous cell carcinoma controlled locally by surgery or radiation was not favorably affected by levamisole in the dose and schedule used in this protocol.
ISSN:0361-5960