PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - SHOJIRO KIKUCHI
AU  - KAZUMA NOGUCHI
AU  - KEIKO WAKAI
AU  - YOKO HAMAZAKI
AU  - KATSUYUKI TOZAWA
AU  - TAKAHITO JOMORI
AU  - MITSURU SASAKO
AU  - HIROTO MIWA
TI  - Propagermanium Induces NK Cell Maturation and Tends to Prolong Overall Survival of Patients With Refractory Cancer
AID  - 10.21873/anticanres.13651
DP  - 2019 Sep 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 4687--4698
VI  - 39
IP  - 9
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/39/9/4687.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/39/9/4687.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2019 Sep 01; 39
AB  - Background/Aim: Propagermanium (PG) inhibits the CCL2/CCR2 axis, and has been shown to function as an immune modulator. This study investigated its anti-tumor mechanism in patients with refractory cancers. Materials and Methods: Five healthy volunteers and 23 patients with refractory oral (n=8) or gastric (n=15) cancer received PG (30 mg/day). We performed flow cytometry (FCM) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and in vitro killing assays. Results: FCM revealed that CD16+/CD56Dim NK cells (i.e., mature, cytolytic subset) increased, and the apoptosis induction rate of cancer cells increased after PG administration. Among gastric cancer patients, median OS was 172.0 days. Two patients showed complete remission of lung or liver metastasis. Survival of patients with oral cancer also tended to be prolonged. Conclusion: PG induces NK cell maturation, and may potentiate anti-tumor activity.