Curative Potential of Foremost Mitogen Applications

Abstract

This paper is presented as a sequel to the Mitogen Information Summaries article, representing a condensation of salient features involved with facilitating the curative potential of the more important mitogen applications. Following is a resumé of the critical attributes of mitogen therapy relative to the management of malignant tumors: (1) An inherent capability to recognize and destroy mutated or damaged tissues without altering those that are normal; (2) The capacity to induce global immunostimulation by the nonspecific activation of CD4± and CD8± cells with balanced production of a variety of cytokines able to stimulate B cell, NK cell, and macrophage pathways, at the same time augmenting myeloproliferation; (3) The ability to afford protection and accelerated recovery from the immunosuppressive and myelosuppressive effects of tumors, infections, GvH reactions, and autoimmune states along with the surgery, irradiation, chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics, and suppressive factors used in their management; (4) Berke's in vitro data from the lectin-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (LDCC) system showing that systemic administration of mitogens such as PHA-L4 should indeed prove destructive to virtually any type of malignancy, leaving normal tissues undamaged; and (5) The potential of these activities to reconstitute the immune competence so vital to lasting cures. The potential role of L4 immunotherapy for infections may be defined by the following criteria: those, including drug-resistant infections, not satisfactorily treatable otherwise; those in which a rapid response is essential; those that are subclinical, latent, recurrent, chronic, persistent, highly lethal, or opportunistic; those in patients with impaired immune responses; and most importantly, those that are not likely to be adversely affected by immunostimulation. Certain paths of administration such as the intralesional (for granulomas), intrapleural (for pleurisy, empyema), and intraperitoneal (for peritonitis) routes might be tested as supplements to intravenous administration in treating infections using dosages comparable to tumor therapy. Intradermal or dermal applications might be used alone for localized viral or fungal skin lesions. The comparative advantages of each mitogen are listed as follows: PHA-L4, longest experience and most complete, including use in humans; Fraction IV PHA, nonagglutinating, otherwise comparable to L4; PWM, nonagglutinating in the broad mitogenic range, high potency that reduces dosage requirements, noncommercial product preferable for experimental studies and for potential advancement to human use.