U.S. patent application number 10/137769 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-31 for method to diagnose and monitor cellular immune deficiencies.
Invention is credited to Hadden, John W..
Application Number | 20020159953 10/137769 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22041732 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020159953 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hadden, John W. |
October 31, 2002 |
Method to diagnose and monitor cellular immune deficiencies
Abstract
A method and kit for determining candidates for immunotherapy,
for monitoring the effect of immunotherapy and analysis of cell
mediated immunity functionality in a patient who needs
immunotherapy is provided. The method includes performing two
intracutaneous skin tests and reading the skin test after
twenty-four hours. One skin test is the administration of a mitogen
such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), pokeweed
antigen (PWA) and other mitogens as known in the art. The PHA skin
test responses reflect the ability of the T-lymphocytes which are
present to react to PHA and to release cytokines like IL-2 and
induce a monocyte/macrophage infiltration leading to the DTH dermal
reaction which is observed in the skin test characteristic of the
afferent limb response of the immune system. The NCM
(mitogen-stimulated natural cytokine mixture) skin test reflects
the ability of preformed T-cell cytokines to induce the
monocyte/macrophage accumulation characteristic of the efferent
limb response.
Inventors: |
Hadden, John W.; (Cold
Spring Harbor, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KOHN & ASSOCIATES
Suite 410
30500 Northwestern Highway
Farmington Hills
MI
48334
US
|
Family ID: |
22041732 |
Appl. No.: |
10/137769 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10137769 |
May 2, 2002 |
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09529566 |
Jun 2, 2000 |
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09529566 |
Jun 2, 2000 |
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PCT/US98/21915 |
Oct 16, 1998 |
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60062322 |
Oct 17, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
424/9.81 ;
435/7.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 33/5058 20130101;
G01N 33/5091 20130101; G01N 33/5055 20130101; G01N 33/5094
20130101; G01N 33/505 20130101; G01N 33/5008 20130101; G01N 33/5011
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/9.81 ;
435/7.21 |
International
Class: |
G01N 033/567; A61K
049/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for monitoring the effect of immunotherapy in a patient
undergoing immunotherapy including the steps of administering an
intracutaneous skin test with a mitogen and reading the skin test
after twenty-four hours; and administering an intracutaneous skin
test with a natural cytokine mixture (NCM) and reading the skin
test after twenty-four hours; wherein patients who respond to the
intracutaneous skin test correlate with positive clinical response
to immunotherapy.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mitogen is
phytohemagglutinin (PHA).
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the
phytohemagglutinin is administered between the range of 0.5 to 1.0
.mu.g.
4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mitogen is
concanavalin A.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mitogen is
pokeweed antigen.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said NCM is
administered at a dose of 0.1 ml which has an equivalence to 15
units of IL-2 by bioassay.
7. The method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of
performing a white blood cell count and determining percent
lymphocytes wherein a lymphocyte counts of <1500 mm.sup.3
indicate a T-lymphocytopenia.
8. A kit for the performance of the method set forth in claim 1
including a mitogen selected from the group consisting of
phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, pokeweed antigen and said
natural cytokine mixture.
9. A method to analyze cell mediated immunity in a patient needing
such an analysis including the steps of administering an
intracutaneous skin test with a mitogen and reading the skin test
after twenty-four hours; and administering an intracutaneous skin
test with a natural cytokine mixture (NCM) and reading the skin
test after twenty-four hours; performing a white blood cell count
and determining percent lymphocytes wherein a lymphocyte counts of
<1500 mm.sup.3 indicate a T-lymphocytopenia and patients who
respond positively to the PHA intracutanecus skin tests have a
functional afferent immune system response and patients who respond
positively to the NCM intracutaneous skin tests have a functional
efferent immune system response such that the functionality of the
T-cells that are present can be determined.
10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mitogen is
phytohemagglutinin (PHA).
11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the
phytohemagglutinin is administered between the range of 0.5 to 1.0
.mu.g.
12. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mitogen is
concanavalin A.
13. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said mitogen is
pokeweed antigen.
14. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said NCM is
administered at a dose of 0.1 ml which has an equivalence to 15
units of IL-2 by bioassay.
15. A method for selecting candidates for immunotherapy among
patients who need immunotherapy including the steps of
administering an intracutaneous skin test with a mitogen and
reading the skin test after twenty-four hours; and administering an
intracutaneous skin test with a natural cytokine mixture (NCM) and
reading the skin test after twenty-four hours; wherein patients who
respond to both of the intracutaneous skin tests are candidates for
immunotherapy.
16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said mitogen is
phytohemagglutinin (PHA).
17. The method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the
phytohemagglutinin is administered between the range of 0.5 to 1.0
.mu.g.
18. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said mitogen is
concanavalin A.
19. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said mitogen is
pokeweed antigen.
20. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said NCM is
administered at a dose of 0.1 ml which has an equivalence to 15
units of IL-2 by bioassay.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] A method and kit to monitor and for diagnosis of cellular
immune deficiencies.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A variety of clinical tests have been used to evaluate
cellular immune responses in diseases involving congenital or
acquired cellular immune deficiency (see in general Stites et al.
(eds), Basic and Clinical Immunology (8th Edition), Appleton &
Lange, Norwalk, Conn. (1994)). Primary cellular immune deficiency
such as DiGeorge Syndrome is associated with the lack of a thymus
and thus T-lymphocytes in blood and tissues. Secondary cellular
immune deficiencies occur in a variety of conditions (see Table I),
perhaps most notably in cancer and human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infections. In these diseases, impairment of T-lymphocyte
functions (proliferation, cytokine production, cytotoxicity, help
and suppression) are often manifest early and followed by a loss of
T-lymphocytes in blood (lymphocytopenia) and lymphoid tissues.
Often, monocyte/macrophage defects occur which may contribute to
impairment of cellular immunity (CMI) also referred to as
delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH).
[0005] DTH is frequently tested clinically with the use of skin
tests to recall antigens such as purified protein derivative (PPD),
tetanus toxoid, candida and other antigens. These tests are not
generally standardized. One test device, the Merieux Multitest
device, has been employed; however, it is expensive (>$90/test)
and insensitive and prone to false negative reaction. Perhaps the
most useful test historically, particularly in cancer, has been
primary sensitization with a new antigen like dinitrochlorobenzene
(DNCB), followed by a challenge. The DNCB skin test has been useful
to predict survival in patients with human cancer i.e. patients
with a good response to DNCB will live longer and have better
survival rates with conventional therapy then those who have a poor
response. It is, however, difficult to perform and there are
concerns regarding possible toxicity, and cross-sensitizing
(Stites, et al, ibid at page 196) and is thus seldom used.
[0006] T-lymphocyte (CD3, CD11) and subsets (CD4, CD8) counts using
cytofluorometry (FACS) are now performed frequently on patients
with HIV infection and are considered to be an important prognostic
predictor of the outcome of this disease. FACS analyses of
T-lymphocyte and subsets are expensive tests and generally only
available in the industrialized countries.
[0007] Historically, physicians have performed routinely a complete
blood count (CBC) and differential. With these data the white blood
cell count (WBC) and the percent of lymphocytes are determined;
however, in general, the WBC and percent lymphocyte are not
multiplied to yield a lymphocyte count (normally around 2000
mm.sup.3). Further, approximately 20% of circulating lymphocytes
are B-lymphocytes and these values have been determined to vary
little throughout life and during various disease. Thus, physicians
are generally unaware that lymphocyte counts of <1500 mm.sup.3
reflect mainly T-lymphocytopenia approaching clinical
significance.
[0008] Where analyzed, T-lymphocytopenia as occurs in cancer,
cancer therapy, irradiation, and HIV infection generally reflects
greater early losses of CD4 than CD8 cells. Thus, one can determine
a lymphocyte count and infer with a great degree of accuracy that
if it is significantly low (i.e. <1500 mm.sup.3) then
T-lymphocytopenia is present and cellular immunity may be
impaired.
[0009] A variety of in vitro tests of T-lymphocyte function have
been developed including lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens
like phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or Concanavalin A (Con A),
interleukin (IL) production like IL-2 and gamma interferon
(IFN-.gamma.), cytotoxicity for target cells, etc. These tests are
expensive, cumbersome, and performed only at academic centers where
appropriate research laboratories are present.
[0010] Clinical medicine needs not only new approaches to the
diagnosis of cellular immune deficiency but also to monitor the
effect of immunotherapy. Historically, natural killer (NK) cells
have been employed to monitor the effect of recombinant interferon
alpha (rIFN-.alpha.) therapy, yet in fact clinical responses have
not correlated with NK cell number or activity. T-lymphocyte counts
have responded to intravenous therapy with high dose rIL-2; however
the response is little or not at all with subcutaneous therapy with
low doses of rIL-2. Thus, new approaches are needed for the
diagnosis and monitoring of CMI in human patients with cancer and
other diseases in which cellular immune deficiencies are
common.
[0011] The use of a natural cytokine mixture (NCM) has proven
effective in the treatment of cellular immune deficiency relating
to age and stress (U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,983).
[0012] The clinical application of this NCM in the immunotherapy of
four patients with squamous cell head and neck cancer (H&N SCC)
induced significant immune regressions in three of four patients
(Hadden et al. "Interleukins and Contrasuppression Induce Immune
Regression of Head and Neck Cancer", Int. Arch. Otolaryngol.,
120:395-403, 1994). In this study, a DTH intracutaneous skin test
was performed. Three patients who were lymphocytopenic responded to
NCM therapy with increased T-lymphocyte counts, including the skin
test negative patient; thus, the skin test did not appear to
predict the immunorestorative response to NCM.
[0013] It would be useful to effectively analyze DTH in the patient
with cellular immune deficiency and to monitor the effect of
immunotherapy designed to correct this deficiency.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] According to the present invention, a method and kit for
determining candidates for immunotherapy, for monitoring the effect
of immunotherapy and analysis of cell mediated immunity
functionality in a patient is provided. The method includes
performing two intracutaneous skin tests and reading the skin test
after twenty-four hours. One skin test is the administration of a
mitogen such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA),
pokeweed antigen (PWA) and other mitogens as known in the art. The
PHA skin test responses reflects the ability of the T-lymphocytes
which are present to react to PHA and to release cytokines like
IL-2 and induce a monocyte/macrophage infiltration leading to the
DTH dermal reaction which is observed in the skin test
characteristic of the afferent limb response of the immune system.
The NCM (mitogen-stimulated natural cytokine mixture) skin test
reflects the ability of preformed T-cell cytokines to induce the
monocyte/macrophage accumulation characteristic of the efferent
limb response.
[0015] The kit contains the appropriate mitogen and NCM to be used
in the skin tests.
[0016] In other words, the present invention provides a method to
monitor patients with cellular immune deficiency by the steps of
determining the result of intracutaneous skin tests with a mitogen
such as PHA and with natural cytokine mixture (NCM) and the result
of blood lymphocyte counts (with or without T-lymphocyte and subset
enumeration) to yield a composite "three-dimensional view" of CMI
including T-lymphocyte number and function (afferent limb) and
cytokine production and action on monocytes and macrophages
(efferent limb)
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Other advantages of the present invention will be readily
appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to
the following detailed description when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a graph showing the correlation between lymphocyte
count and PHA skin test response in cancer patients;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the correlation between lymphocyte
count and NCM skin test response in patients with squamous cell
head and neck cancer (H&N SCC);
[0020] FIG. 3 is a graph showing the correlation between PHA and
NCM skin test response in patients with squamous cell head and neck
cancer (H&N SCC); and
[0021] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the correlation between lymphocyte
count and PHA skin test response in patients with squamous cell
head and neck cancer (H&N SCC).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] The present invention provides a method and kit for
determining candidates for immunotherapy and for monitoring the
effect of immunotherapy in a patient undergoing immunotherapy (see
Table 1). Patients who need to be selected as candidates for
immunotherapy for example are patients who have cancer. Patients
who need to be monitored for example are patients who are
undergoing immunotherapy for cancer. It is useful to know if the
patient is responding or has the potential for responding no matter
the white blood cell count. Additionally, the method of the present
invention allows the selection of patients who are good candidates
for immunotherapy amount those patients who need immunotherapy.
[0023] The method includes performing two intracutaneous skin tests
and reading the skin test after twenty-four hours. One skin test is
the administration of a mitogen such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA),
concanavalin A (ConA) pokeweed antigen (PWA) and other mitogens as
known in the art. As shown in the exemplar herein, when PHA is used
the dose administered is between the range of 0.5 to 1.0 .mu.g. As
shown in Example 2 herein, there is a correlation with
responsiveness in the skin tests to immunotherapy response,
particularly to immunotherapy with NCM.
[0024] The PHA skin test responses reflect the ability of the
T-lymphocytes which are present, to react to PHA and to release
cytokines like IL-2, IFN K, etc. and induce a monocyte/macrophage
infiltration leading to the DTH dermal reaction which is observed
in the skin test characteristic of the afferent limb response of
the immune system. The NCM (mitogen-stimulated natural cytokine
mixture) skin test reflects the ability of preformed T-cell
cytokines to induce the monocyte/macrophage accumulation
characteristic of the efferent limb response. The two responses
allow the determination of whether the afferent or efferent or both
limbs of the immune response are affected and can then be
correlated with T-cell number. In other words, the functionality of
the T-cells present can be determined by this method and it will
have an effect on the outcome and design of immunotherapy. The
present invention allows the monitoring during immunotherapy for
changes to determine if the course of treatment is having an effect
and in which direction. It further allows for monitoring that the
immunotherapy is not causing changes in the responsiveness of the
T-cells present in the patient. Further, by knowing whether both
the efferent and afferent limbs of the immune system are
functional, good candidates for immunotherapy can be selected.
[0025] The kit contains the appropriate mitogen and NCM at the
required concentrations to be used in the skin tests. Additionally,
the kit will contain the materials including syringes and needles
to administer the skin test as well as control solutions that do
not contain the mitogen or NCM.
[0026] The method of the present invention and kit also provide an
analysis of the functionality of cell mediated immunity in a
patient needing such an analysis. As described herein above, two
intracutaneous skin tests are administered and read after
twenty-four hours. The two skin tests are the NDM and mitogen skin
tests. In addition a white blood cell count with the percent
lymphocytes determined is also performed. The results of a
lymphocyte count of <1500 mm.sup.3 indicate a T-lymphocytopenia.
The further analysis then allows the determination of how the
T-cells that are present are functioning, that is, are only the
afferent or efferent or both limbs of the immune system functional.
Patients who respond positively to the PHA intracutaneous skin
tests have a functional afferent immune system response and
patients who respond positively to the NCM intracutaneous skin
tests have a functional efferent immune system response such that
the functionality of the T-cells that are present can be
determined.
[0027] In summary, the present invention provides a method to
monitor patients with cellular immune deficiency by the steps of
determining the result of intracutaneous skin tests with a mitogen
such as PHA and with natural cytokine mixture (NCM) and the result
of blood lymphocyte counts (with or without T-lymphocyte and subset
enumeration) to yield a composite "three-dimensional view" of CMI
including T-lymphocyte number and function (afferent limb) and
cytokine production and action on monocytes and macrophages
(efferent limb). The methods used with and the utility of the
present invention can be shown by the following non-limiting
examples and accompanying figures.
EXAMPLES
[0028] Methods:
[0029] General Methods in Immunology:
[0030] Standard methods in immunology known in the art and not
specifically described are generally followed as in Stites et al.
(eds), Basic and Clinical Immunology (8th Edition), Appleton &
Lange, Norwalk, Conn. (1994) and Mishell and Shiigi (eds), Selected
Methods in Cellular Immunology, W.H. Freeman and Co., New York
(1980). Immunoassays: In general, ELISAs are one immunoassays
employed to assess a specimen as needed. ELISA assays are well
known to those skilled in the art. Both polyclonal and monoclonal
antibodies can be used in the assays. Where appropriate other
immunoassays, such as radioimmunoassays (RIA) can be used as are
known to those in the art. Available immunoassays are extensively
described in the patent and scientific literature. See, for
example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,791,932; 3,839,153; 3,850,752; 3,850,578;
3,853,987; 3,867,517; 3,879,262; 3,901,654; 3,935,074; 3,984,533;
3,996,345; 4,034,074; 4,098,876; 4,879,219; 5,011,771 and
5,281,,521 as well as Sambrook et al, Molecular Cloning: A
Laboratory Manual, Cold Springs Harbor, New York, 1989.
[0031] Skin Tests
[0032] Intracutaneous skin tests are performed and evaluated as is
generally known in the art. Briefly, sterile test solutions are
prepared and administer generally using 25- or 27-gauge needles.
The largest dimensions of both erythema and induration are measured
with a ruler, in the method of the present invention at 24 hours.
The inflammatory infiltrate that accumulates at the site and
accompanying edema result in the induration of the skin and the
diameter of this reaction ia an index of the response. Induration
of 5 mm or more in diameter is the generally accepted criterion of
a positive response, strong positive (major) responses can be
grater than 1 centimeter. In general a negative reaction will
provide a response similar to the control (no antigen) site.
[0033] Preparation of Natural Cytokine Mixture (NCM)
[0034] The buffy coat white cells of human blood from multiple
HIV-negative hepatitis virus-negative donors is collected. In an
alternative embodiment, animals are the cell source for veterinary
uses. The cells from the donors are pooled and layered on ficoll
hypaque gradients (Pharmacia) to yield lymphocytes free of
neutrophils and erythrocytes. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,390,623 and
4,448,879) Alternative methods are used that would result in the
same starting lymphocyte population as are known in the art.
[0035] The lymphocytes are washed and distributed in X vivo-10
media (Whittaker Bioproducts) to flasks (MicroCELLector.TM. T-25
Cell Culture Flasks) in which are immobilized stimulants, i.e.
mitogens, and in a preferred embodiment of the present invention
PHA. However, Cibcabavakub A (ConA), pokeweed antigen (PWA) or
OKT-3 can be used. Alternatively, X vivo-15 and X vivo-20 media can
be used. The immobilization process for the stimulants is as
described by the manufacturer for immobilizing various substances
for panning procedures, i.e. separating cells, in the flasks.
[0036] The cells are incubated for 24-48 hours in X vivo-10 media
with 80 .mu.g/ml ciprofloxacin (Miles Lab) at 37.degree. in a
CO.sub.2/air incubator. Alternatively, RPMI 1640 media is used
(Webb et al. 1973). Generally the HSA is used at 0.1 to 0.5%
(weight by volume). Following incubation the supernatants are
poured off and collected. Human serum albumin (HSA) can be added to
stabilize further the interleukins. The supernatants are stored at
4.degree. C. to -70.degree. C.
[0037] Characterization of Supernatants
[0038] The pooled supernatants are characterized by measuring the
cytokine content by bioassay for IL-2 and ELISAs for the remaining
interleukins IL-1-IL-15, CSFs, TNFs, and IFNs. Specifically, the
following assays and kits are used in a preferred embodiment:
INF-.gamma. ELISA (ENDOGEN), IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7,
IL-8, GM-CSF, G-CSF and TNF-A ELISAs (R&D Systems). The IL-2
bioassay is by the method of Gillis et al. (Gillis et al. "T Cell
Growth Factor: Parameters of Production and a Quantitive Microassay
for Activity" J. Immunol., 120:2027-2032, 1978) and is expressed as
units/ml compared to a known standard of IL-2 (Schiapparelli
Biosystems, Inc., Fairfield, N.J.). Sterility is tested by culture
in thioglycolate broth and endotoxin measured by limulus lysate
assay as is known in the art.
[0039] Standardization of Supernatant for Cytokine Content
[0040] Each supernatant is standardized for IL-2 content either by
concentration or amount administered. In general for skin tests,
the NCM is standardized to have an equivalence of 15 Units of IL-2
by bioassay in 0.1 ml of the supernatant.
[0041] Removal of Contaminants from Supernatant
[0042] DNA and virus exclusion, when used, employ such techniques
as ultrafiltration, column chromatography, virasol, ethanol
fractionation, polyethylene glycol/bentonite precipitation, gamma
irradiation, and/or solvent/detergent treatment as has been used
for intravenous gamma globulin and monoclonal antibodies (e.g. IGIV
News Update brochure).
EXAMPLE 1
[0043] Skin tests with PHA (0.5 or 1.0 .mu.g) were performed in ten
patients with H&N SCC and twenty-three Taxol-treated patients
with breast cancer and nine healthy controls. Sixty-seven percent
of cancer patients (14/21) did not respond to the 0.5 .mu.g dose of
PHA and had mean lymphocyte counts of 1257.+-.167. Forty-seven
percent of the cancer patients (15/33) did not respond to the 1.0
.mu.g dose of PHA and had mean lymphocyte counts of 1383.+-.214.
The responders (7/12 & 18/33) had lymphocytes, respectively, of
2095.+-.354 and 1755.+-.219. All of the controls responded and had
a mean lymphocyte count of 2107.+-.285. Failure to respond to the
PHA, particularly the 0.5 .mu.g dose, is thus common in the cancer
patients and reflects published anergy figures for DNCB. While
patients anergic to PHA show significantly lower lymphocyte counts,
the correlation of the two (FIG. 1) is not high, reflecting the
fact that the defects of anergy and lymphocytopenia are related but
are not obviously cause and effect.
EXAMPLE 2
[0044] H&N SCC patients were analyzed for PHA and NCM skin
tests and lymphocyte counts and little or no correlations were
observed (FIGS. 2, 4). These data indicate that each test is
looking at a different component of the CMI/DTH defects in H&N
SC cancer as would be expected:
[0045] 1) T-lymphocyte counts reflect T-lymphocyte number and
indirectly the pool size;
[0046] 2) PHA skin test responses reflects the ability of these
T-lymphocytes which are present to react to PHA and to release
cytokines like IL-2, IFN K, etc. and induce a monocyte/macrophage
infiltration leading to the DTH dermal reaction, and
[0047] 3) the NCM (mitogen-stimulated natural cytokine mixture)
reflects the ability of preformed T-cell cytokines to induce the
monocyte/macrophage accumulation characteristic of the efferent
limb response.
[0048] Thirty-three patients with locally advanced H&N SC
cancers were skin tested with intracutaneous i.e. injections of NCM
prior to immunotherapy with NCM in the immunotherapy strategy
(Hadden et al., 1994 ibid). Twenty-five patients were NCM-positive
and eight were negative to the NCM skin test read at 24 hours. Of
the twenty-five, fifteen NCM positive patients had major clinical
responses and eleven had minor or no response; of the eight NCM
negative patients, none had major responses (TABLE 2).
[0049] Of the major responders in the NCM+ group, only one
recurrence with death (7%) has occurred and of the NCM- group, four
recurrences with death (50%) had occurred. Thus, the NCM skin test
is a significant and reliable predictor of clinical response to
this immunotherapy protocol unexpectedly based on previous results.
(FIGS. 2-4).
[0050] Of the twenty-five NCM+ patients on protocol, eight were
lymphocytopenic (<1500 mm.sup.3) with a mean count of
1247.+-.92. All but one of these patients showed an increase in
lymphocytes to a mean of 1866.+-.172 (p<0.01 by paired student
T-test). Of the eight NCM negative patients, five were
lymphocytopenic (mean 1391.+-.37) and only one showed an increase
by Chi square analysis (TABLE 3). Thus, the NCM skin test also
predicts the immunorestorative effect of NCM on patients with low
lymphocyte counts.
[0051] In one patient treated with immunotherapy, NCM has been
associated with an increase in the PHA skin test. In the three
patients, NCM therapy has been associated with an increase in the
NCM skin test. Thus, these parameters reflect the effect of
immunotherapy. (FIG. 3)
[0052] The advantages of this diagnostic approach are its
simplicity and cost making the test widely employable, particularly
in office practice, rural settings and nondeveloped countries where
more complicated tests are not available or not economically
feasible to use. The advantage of this approach in monitoring the
impact of immunotherapy is unique in that no test or tests have
emerged which can consistently monitor any immunotherapy. The
combination of these three tests of the present invention therefore
are useful for monitoring immunotherapies such as NCM therapy for
monitoring which correct T-lymphocyte number and function and/or
monocyte/macrophage function.
[0053] Throughout this application, various publications, including
United States patents, are referenced by author, citation and year
and patents by number. The disclosures of these publications and
patents in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference
into this application in order to more fully describe the state of
the art to which this invention pertains.
[0054] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner,
and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used
is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than
of limitation.
[0055] Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,
therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
1TABLE 1 SECONDARY CELLULAR IMMUNE DEFICIENCY HIV AGING VIRAL
INFECTIONS (TRANSITORY) ZINC/ ? SELENIUM DEFICIENCY
BURNS/TRAUMA/SEPSIS PROTEIN CALORIE MALNUTRITION CHRONIC
INFECTION/PARASITOSIS IMMUNOTOXICANTS RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
IMMUNOSUPRESSIVE CHEMOTHERAPY
[0056]
2 TABLE 2 Skin Test Major Minor Chi Result Response Response Total
Square NCM+ 15 10 25 .chi..sup.2 = 6.6 NCM- 0 8 8 p < 0.01
Totals 15 18 33
[0057]
3 TABLE 3 8 1 9 .chi..sup.2 = 4.0 1 4 5 p < 0.05 9 5 14
* * * * *