Could thymostimulin prevent hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in patients with liver cirrhosis?

  • Authors:
    • G Palmieri
    • E Biondi
    • A Morabito
    • A Rea
    • A Bianco
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 1, 1996     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.3.4.655
  • Pages: 655-656
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Abstract

On the basis of a possible pathogenetic role of immunodepression in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B/C viral infection and liver cirrhosis, we treated 34 liver cirrhosis patients (M/F 24/10; age: 14 pts less than or equal to 60 years, 20>60; Performance status: 22 0-1, 12 2-3; Childs' grade: 21 A, 13 B; ascites yes/not: 4/30) employing thymostimulin (TST), at the dosage of 50 mg/m(2) i.m. 3 times a week, until death or severe toxicity occurrence. Etiology of cirrhosis was viral in all cases. The patients were followed up every 3 months by means of clinical examination and biochemical analyses; every 6 months by checking viral serum markers, alpha-fetoprotein and by means of ultrasounds. To date, 34 patients have been treated, with a median follow-up of 6 (1-8) years. No occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma has been observed, with a statistically significant difference between observed and expected HCC (p<0.05). Thymostimulin treatment was well tolerated. Our data seem to suggest that the immunomodulating treatment could significantly reduce the risk of HCC occurrence in patients with liver cirrhosis.

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July 1996
Volume 3 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Palmieri G, Biondi E, Morabito A, Rea A and Bianco A: Could thymostimulin prevent hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in patients with liver cirrhosis?. Oncol Rep 3: 655-656, 1996
APA
Palmieri, G., Biondi, E., Morabito, A., Rea, A., & Bianco, A. (1996). Could thymostimulin prevent hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in patients with liver cirrhosis?. Oncology Reports, 3, 655-656. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.3.4.655
MLA
Palmieri, G., Biondi, E., Morabito, A., Rea, A., Bianco, A."Could thymostimulin prevent hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in patients with liver cirrhosis?". Oncology Reports 3.4 (1996): 655-656.
Chicago
Palmieri, G., Biondi, E., Morabito, A., Rea, A., Bianco, A."Could thymostimulin prevent hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence in patients with liver cirrhosis?". Oncology Reports 3, no. 4 (1996): 655-656. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.3.4.655