The Effect of Lentinan on the Immunological Changes after Operation for Esophageal Cancer

Satoru Hayashi, Masayuki Matsumori, Masayoshi Okada

Department of Surgery Division II, Kobe University, School of Medicine

The host defense mechanism in patients with esophageal cancer is markedly suppreed by surgical intervention in the presence of malignant tumor and malnutrition. In has been shown to cause a higher incidence of postoperative infection, and damages the tolerance for recurrence of the tumor. The immunological changes before and after surgery in 33 patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer was studied. Parameters such as blood leukocyte count (WBC), blood lymphocyte count, immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA), subsets of lymphocytes (Leu. 4, Leu. 3a, Leu. 2a, Leu. 7, Leu. 11), antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and natural killer (NK) activity were routinely measured. The effect of Lentinan on the immune response of patients after surgery was also evaluated. Lentinan was intravenously administrated at 2 mg every week to 18 of 33 patients from two weeks before the operation. Parameters such as total lymphocytes, IgG, IgA, CH₅₀, Leu. 4, Leu. 3 a/Leu. 2 a, ADCC and NK activity were suppressed after surgery. Cell-mediated immunity (Leu. 3 a/Leu. 2 a, ADCC and NK activity) was further depressed and it remained so longer. The suppression of total lymphocytes, Leu. 3 a/Leu. 2 a, ADCC, NK activity and incidence of postoperative leukocytosis were less in the Lentinan-administrated group. The use of Lentinan was suggested to be feasible for immunity after esophageal surgery.

Key words
esophageal cancer, immunological change, cellular immunity, biological response modifier, Lentinan

Reprint requests
Satoru Hayashi Department of Surgery Division II, Kobe University, School of Medicine
7-5-2 Kusunokichiyo, Chuoku, Kobe, 650 JAPAN

Accepted
February 10, 1993

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