Immunotherapy of thyroid cancer by induction of autoimmune thyroiditis.

An animal model was used to investigate the most effective way to create autoimmune thyroiditis. Several modified forms of thyroglobulin (TG) with and without Freund adjuvant were tested. TG altered with the diazonium derivatives of arsanilic and sulfanilic acids was found to be the most effective immunizing agent for inducing autoimmunity. Human TG altered in the same manner was used to induce autoimmune thyroiditis in humans with untreatable metastatic thyroid cancer. There was minimal toxicity during the therapy and it was possible to create autoimmune thyroiditis in three of eight patients. Antibodies to TG were induced in five of eight patients. The clinical response to the immunotherapy was minimal, however, and it was not possible to demonstrate any significant measurable response to therapy.