Preliminary studies on the effect of Ukrain (Tris(2-([5bS-(5ba,6b,12ba)]- 5b,6,7,12b,13,14-hexahydro-13-methyl[1,3] benzodioxolo[5,6-v]-1-3- dioxolo[4,5-i]phenanthridinium-6-ol]-Ethaneaminyl)Phosphinesulfide.6HCl ) on the immunological response in patients with malignant tumours.

Preliminary clinical observations and studies on immunological response-indicators were made in eight patients with malignant tumours, who had been administered parenteral injections of Ukrain. The results suggest that the preparation is a non-toxic immunostimulator inducing production of thymodependent T lymphocytes. The preparation improves general health of patients, has anti-allergic action, and sedative and anti-inflammatory effects. It can inhibit growth of malignant tumours.

Evaluation of thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. ("Ukrain") as an immunostimulant in patients with various carcinomas.

This paper summarizes the preliminary results of two independent clinical trials conducted with the preparation "Ukrain", containing thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from the plant Chelidonium majus L. (greater celandine), in order to investigate whether it has immunopotentiating properties in cancer patients. A total of twenty-seven patients with various malignancies were treated with "Ukrain" given intravenously in a dose of 10 mg every three days. In all patients the cellular and humoral immune response was studied. There was an increase in both total T-cells and T-helper lymphocytes, a decrease in T-suppressor cells, and normalization of the helper/suppressor (HIS) ratio. A significant increase in erythrocyte-rosette-forming T-cells and NK cells was also demonstrated. Serum immunoglobulin levels, complement components (C3 and C4), and acute phase proteins were not significantly enhanced. Restoration of cellular immunity was accompanied by an improvement in the patients' performance status and in the clinical course of the disease. The treatment was generally well tolerated. The present study shows that some therapeutic benefit from the use of Chelidonium majus ("Ukrain") as an immunostimulant in cancer patients can be achieved.

Cell-mediated immunity in the blood of women with inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the ovary.

Blood samples from 181 women with inflammatory conditions and with benign or malignant neoplasms of the ovary and from 36 healthy women (control group) were examined by determining the following indicators of cell-mediated immunity: leukocyte count, lymphocyte count, absolute number of lymphocytes, percentage of rosette-forming T lymphocytes, absolute number of T lymphocytes, and phagocytic activity of granulocytes. In women with ovary inflammation, there was a very high phagocytic activity of granulocytes. It correlated with an increased leukocyte count. The activity and number of T lymphocytes were very low in this group. In this group was also the lowest percentage of lymphocytes. In the group with malignancies of the ovary, there were the same very low activity and number of T lymphocytes. The values of T lymphocytes in inflammations and malignancies were almost equal and did not differ significantly from one another. The phagocytic activity of granulocytes was the lowest in women with malignancies of the ovary. In blood of women with benign neoplasms of the ovary, the activity and number of T lymphocytes and the activity of granulocytes were significantly higher than in the malignancies group.

Defense proteins and immune complexes in the blood serum of women with inflammatory and neoplastic lesions of the ovary.

Blood sera of 181 women with inflammatory conditions and with benign and malignant neoplasms of the ovary and of 36 healthy women (control group) were examined by determining the levels of defense proteins: C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT), alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M), components C3 (beta 1 A-globulin) and C4 (beta 1 E-globulin) of the complement, immunoglobulins M (IgM), A (IgA), and G (IgG), as well as the concentration of circulating immune complexes (IC). In women with ovarian pathology, as compared with the control group, a significant increase of all the defense proteins was found (p less than 0.05). The highest increase of the defense proteins, except in regard to A2M was observed in inflammation of the ovary. In malignant neoplasms of the ovary, the level of A2M was the highest and that of A1AT as high as in inflammatory conditions. There was also a high percentage of increased CRP values (57%). The concentration of the remaining proteins under study, although significantly higher than in the control group (p less than 0.05), was in this group the lowest in comparison with the groups of ovarian inflammation and benign neoplasms, especially with regard to component C3 of the complement and to IgM and IgG (p less than 0.05). Significantly increased values of IC (p less than 0.05) were observed in ovarian inflammation (73.2%) and in benign neoplasms (25.0%). In the group of malignant neoplasms (15.4%) and in healthy women (5.6%), the increased IC values were not statistically significant (p less than 0.05).