Thymopentin treatment in patients undergoing surgery for lung carcinoma: Analysis of actuarial survival

Thymopentin is increasingly used in cancer patients because it has been observed to be useful in preventing infections in the post-operatory period and follow radio and chemotherapy. Two hundred forty seven patients undergoing macroscopically radical exeresis for non-small-cell lung cancer were randomly assigned to thymopentin treatment or control group. The patients were staged according to TNM system indications and classified as follows; I = 138pts, II = 54pts, IIIa = 55pts. Drug regimen was 1 mg/kg/die in the 3/7 days before surgery and throughout the post-operatory period, and 1 mg/kg every other day in the first year. In subseqent years the frug was administered at the same dosage for one month every three. We calculated the profile of the lymphocyte Leu 1, 4, 7, 3a, 2a subpopulation, and the helper/suppressor ratio within the controll group both prior and following one year from the treatment. We also observed a significant increase of Leu 1, 4 and 3a profile. Survival curves obtained by actuarial evaluation of the patients treated with thymopentin vs non treated patients showed that after 66 months the probability of survival in stage I patients was 78% vs 60% (p < 0.05); in stage II, 65% VS 58% (p = n.s.); in stage IIIa, 16% vs 13% (p = n.s.). In our opinion a positive interaction on survival was probably obtained by an aspecific activation of the immune system; in stage I when exeresis reduces residual disease to a minimum; in stage II and IIIa aspecific stimulation, if any, did not result in increased survival.