Immunotherapy of breast cancer, malignant melanoma, and acute leukemia with BCG: Prolongation of disease free interval and survival

Abstract

Results of immunotherapy with BCG in patients with malignant melanoma, breast cancer, and acute leukemia are described. The first study demonstrated that high doses of living BCG organisms (6×108 viable units) delivered by scarification in the upper arms and legs prolonged the disease-free interval and survival of 52 malignant melanoma patients with regional lymph node metastases compared to 218 comparable surgical control patients. Patients with trunk and extremity, but not head and neck melanoma, benefited from BCG, suggesting the importance of the delivery of BCG into the tumor-involved lymphatics.