Re: Treatment of Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Bar virus-MORE STUDIES

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Biotherapy. 1996;9(1-3):109-15.

Transfer factor with anti-EBV activity as an adjuvant therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a pilot study.Prasad U, bin Jalaludin MA, Rajadurai P, Pizza G, De Vinci C, Viza D, Levine PH.University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Overall

survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at UICC stage IV still

remains unsatisfactory even with combination chemotherapy (CT) and

radio-therapy (RT). In view of the association of reactivation of

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with the development and recurrence of NPC,

immunotherapy in the form of transfer factor (TF) with specific

activity against EBV (TF-B1) was suggested as an adjuvant to a

combination of CT and RT in order to improve survival. In the present

study, 6 UICC stage IV patients received TF-B1 and another 6 patients

matched for disease stage were given TF prepared from peripheral blood

leucocytes (TF-PBL). Results were compared with another 18 patients

matched by age, sex, and stage of disease who received standard therapy

without TF during the same period (C group). After a median follow up

of 47.5 months, the survival for the TF-B1 group was found to be

significantly better (P = < 0.05) than the PBL and C group. While

the 8 patients with distant metastasis (DM), not treated with TF-B1 (6

in the control and 2 in the PBL group), died due to progressive disease

(average survival being 14.3 months), both patients with DM in the

TF-B1 group had complete remission: one died of tuberculosis after

surviving for 3.5 years and another is still alive, disease free, after

4.2 years. Although the series involved a small number of cases, the

apparent effect of adjuvant immunotherapy in the form of TF with

anti-EBV activity is of considerable interest.Publication Types: Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial

PMID: 8993768 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

It is not clear from the abstract if the TF used was bovine or human in

origin - would love to hear from anyone who can interpret it!

Interesting to note that in another study the (human blood-extracted) TF was helpful in cases of lung cancer...

Ann Thorac Surg. 1984 Aug;38(2):140-5.

Related Articles,

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Transfer factor in the treatment of carcinoma of the lung.Kirsh MM, Orringer MB, McAuliffe S, Schork MA, Katz B, Silva J Jr.From

1976 to 1982, 63 patients with carcinoma of the lung underwent curative

pulmonary resection, mediastinal lymph node dissection, and

postoperative mediastinal irradiation when indicated. After operation,

the patients were randomized by cell type and stage of disease into two

groups. Beginning 1 month postoperatively, Group 1 patients (N = 28)

received 1 ml of transfer factor that had been extracted from the blood

of normal individuals. Subsequent doses were administered at 3-month

intervals. Group 2 patients (N = 35) served as controls. There were no

significant differences between the two groups with respect to age,

sex, extent of resection, histological cell type, or stage of disease.

Twenty of the 28 treated patients were alive and free from disease from

7 to 77 months after treatment, whereas 17 of the 35 control patients

were free from disease. The 1-year survival for Group 1 was 84% and for

Group 2, 81%. The 2-year survival was 78% for Group 1 and 46% for Group

2 (p = 0.045). The survival rates by stage of disease were as follows:

Stage I, 15 out of 17 or 88% in Group 1 and 15 out of 23 or 65% in

Group 2 (p = 0.097); Stages II and III, 5 out of 11 or 45% in Group 1

and 3 out of 12 or 25% in Group 2 (p = 0.304). The results of the study

suggest that the administration of transfer factor to patients who have

undergone pulmonary resection for carcinoma of the lung can have a

significant impact on the prolongation of life.Publication Types:Clinical Trial

PMID: 6380436 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Natasa

> Lancet. 1981 Jul 18;2(8238):122-4. Links > > Treatment of childhood combined Epstein-Barr virus/cytomegalovirus infection with oral bovine transfer factor. > JF, > Minnich LL, > Jeter WS, > Pritchett RF, > Fulginiti VA, > Wedgwood RJ.>

An illness lasting for two years, with recurrent fever, rash, abdominal

pain, and arthralgia, developed in a four year old boy. He was found to

have a combined Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

His symptoms, CMV in his urine, and an absent in vitro lymphocyte

response to CMV antigen persisted for two years. After treatment with

orally administered bovine transfer factor clinical symptoms and

viruria disappeared and specific immunity to CMV developed. Evaluation

of this treatment in chronic virus infections is warranted.> PMID: 6113484 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]> > > > > > ---------------------------------> Stay in the know. Pulse on the new Yahoo.com. Check it out.>