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OK-432, a hemolytic streptococcal preparation, was given orally (11 cases) and intracutaneously (14 cases) to intramucosal gastric cancer patients as postoperative adjuvant immunotherapy. The following results were obtained.1) Oral administration of OK-432 enhanced the skin reactions to PPD, Su-PS and Su-PR to an extent similar to that after intracutaneous administration of OK-432.2) Oral administration of OK-432 caused greater increases in the absolute count and the OKT-3 positive cell ratio of peripheral lymphocytes than did intracutaneous administration of it.3) Oral administration of OK-432 enhanced the PHA blastoid reaction of peripheral lymphocytes to a greater extent than did intracutaneous administration of it. 4) No side effects were noted after oral OK-432 administration.Thus, oral administration of OK-432 is considered to be a therapy which activates general cell-mediated immune response, with effects that are comparable to those of intracutaneous administration of OK-432. Favorable results are anticipated upon further clinical evaluation of this extremely easy and safe dosing method.

A study was conducted to investigate cellular immunity as a host-related factor affecting gastric cancer. The relationship between cellular immunity and therapeutic efficacy was examined in patients with gastric cancer treated by curative resection, in order to determine the immunological condition of the hosts for which BRM therapy would be maximally effective. The results of the treatment were favorable in patients who were preoperatively negative for serum LAP and positive for the PPD skin test. Thus the efficacy of BRM therapy seems to be predictable on the basis of these two parameters. Variations in the response to the Su-PS skin test reflected the results of the treatment. Therefore these variations are particularly useful for predicting the efficacy of BRM therapy using OK-432. Thus, screening for BRM therapy on the basis of cellular immunity seems to be possible if appropriate parameters are used.