Immunotherapy with the use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and interleukin-2 as adjuvant treatment in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. A pilot study.

This study assesses the feasibility and toxicity of adoptive immunotherapy with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and recombinant interleukin-2 in 29 patients who underwent resection for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. In five patients cultures yielded no growth of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. In the remaining 24 patients (stage IIIa, 14 cases; stage IIIb, 10 cases) tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were in vitro expanded from surgically obtained tissue samples, including samples from both the tumor and surrounding lung.

Benign cystic teratoma of the mediastinum presenting as recurrent pneumonia and simulating malignancy.

We describe a case in whom recurrent pneumonia was the presenting manifestation of a benign cystic teratoma of the mediastinum. Although the symptoms had developed over a 15-year period, the mass was not identified on the chest roentgenograrns up to the age of 22 years. CT demonstrated the extent of the mass, but failed in clarifying the cystic nature of the tumor and in providing diagnosis.

[Trials of the diagnostic potentials of TPA in tumorous and nontumorous lung pathologies in 303 cases].

Serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) has been determined in 271 patients with pleural or pulmonary neoplastic diseases (131) or with benign lung diseases (140). Using a cut-off of 95 U/L, TPA has a sensitivity and specificity of 65%. Therefore, TPA serum determination can suggest a diagnosis of malignancy, but its evaluation, as a single test, is not useful to differentiate between malignant or benign disease.

Protective effect of Duovent versus salbutamol in long-term treatment.

The effect of the combination fenoterol-ipratropium bromide (Duovent) as a bronchodilator drug versus salbutamol and placebo was investigated in 20 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease in a random cross-over trial. Our study was performed not only to evaluate the bronchodilator response, but especially to quantify the possibly more prolonged action of Duovent versus salbutamol, based on registration of prevention of asthma attacks, time effects and protective activity, management and tolerance. Each patient received therapy for 3 weeks; in each week only one of the preparations: salbutamol, Duovent or placebo was used.