Treatment of mycosis fungoides with OK-432.

Up to the present no other therapeutic means besides local X-ray or beta-ray irradiation and anticancer drugs for the treatment of patients with mycosis fungoides, especially when the condition has progressed to secondary involvement of the lymph nodes, has been found. A recent clinical trial of OK-432 injected locally into cutaneous tumors of a patient with this disease resulted in a conspicuous contraction not only of the tumors injected but of other tumors as well along with significant regression of lymphadenomas. No serious adverse reaction was observed other than low-grade fever and heavy-headedness. These results suggest host-mediated and direct antitumor effects of OK-432 as the possible underlying mechanisms. The efficacy of OK-432 in reducing the size of the tumors without causing any serious adverse effects indicate the potential usefulness of this drug for the treatment of mycosis fungoides.