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Eighty one patients (59 females, 22 males) with advanced solid tumors were treated with Adriamycin in doses of 40 mg/m2 body surgace daily, in two days cycles, with resting periods of 3 weeks. Overall response rate was 46% (37/81). In breast cancer response rate was 56% (13/23) and in ovarian cancer 48% (13/27). In various other tumors remission was observed in soft tissue sarcomas (3/8), thyroid cancer (1/7), osteogenic sarcoma (1/4), oesophageal cancer (2/4), lung cancer (2/4), bladder cancer (1/2) and hepatoma (1/2). In breast cancer patients, 2-7 month remission duration was observed (M equal to 4.5 month) and in ovarian cancer 1.5-5 month (M equal to 3.2 month). Adriamycin was also applied intrapleurally in 31 patients with malignant pleural effusions with a low response rate (26%). This modified schedule of Adriamycin administration showed a high antitumor activity in breast and ovarian cancer and in soft tissue sarcomas. Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus was also sensitive to Adriamycin therapy. The very low rate of myelosuppression and oral ulceration showed the decreased toxicity of this Adriamycin administration schedule.

The immune response to SRBC (PFC assay) was suppressed in mice injected with cell-free ascitic fluid from patients with ovarian carcinoma. The immunosuppressive effect of ascitic fluid obtained from stage IV patients was stronger than that of stage III patients. These data were correlated with the patient’s immune status (number of E and EAC rosettes, PHA reactivity of lymphocytes, skin reactivity to recall antigens) and with changes in protein fractions in the serum and ascitic fluid. A good correlation was found between the immunosuppressive effect in the mouse PFC assay and the increased quantity of alpha-1-globulins in ascites. Skin nonreactivity to PPD also correlated with the immunosuppressive effect of ascitic fluid. However, the lymphocyte response to PHA and the numbers of E and EAC rosettes did not correlate either with skin reactivity to recall antigens or with the suppression of PFC response in mice.

Fifteen patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated with human leukocyte interferon (HLI). HLI was applied topically and i.m. to nine patients, and only topically to six. After therapy, surgical material was free from tumor cells in three patients, tumor cells were identified as invasive carcinoma in one patient and as CA in situ in two patients. Findings remained unchanged in nine patients. Tumor metastases in the lymph nodes were found in only one patient. The patients' overall response to therapy was assessed on the basis of stromal response, relation of tumor cells and macrophage activity, and the reactivity of lymph nodes.

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