A trial of nonspecific immunotherapy using systemic C. parvum in treated patients with Dukes B and C colorectal cancer.

In view of the relatively poor prognosis for patients after surgery for locally invasive colorectal cancer a trial of repeated systemic infusions of Corynebacterium parvum (CP) has been carried out. It is in this group of patients, with a high risk of recurrence from small residues of cancer left by the surgeon, that immunotherapy should have its optimum chance of success. A total of 92 patients were included in a randomized controlled study. The two groups were comparable in terms of tumour stage at presentation, operation performed and mean age of patients, but the control group had a preponderance of male patients. The study was carried out over 54 months. Treatment resulted in greater side effects than had been predicted, and as a result many patients could not be considered for inclusion.