Inhalation therapy using a streptococcal preparation (OK-432) against bronchiolo alveolar carcinoma of the lung

In order to inhibit an airborne metastasis of bronchiolo alveolar cell carcinoma, we tried to activate alveolar macrophages by inhalation of aerosolized OK-432 (streptococcal preparation). When the alveolar macrophages obtained from resected specimens from lung cancer patients were cultured for 24 h in the presence of various concentrations of OK-432 (0.001, 0.01, 0.1 1 KE/ml), the cytotoxic activity against a lung cancer cell line, QG 56, was augmented in a dose dependent manner. After 72 h cultivation with 0.1 KE/ml of OK-432, the alveolar macrophages produced various cytokines, ie, IL-1, TNF-α, and IL-6. Based on the in vitro experiments, three patients with intrapulmonary metastatic bronchiolo alveolar carcinoma were treated by inhalation of aerosolized OK-432 (0.1 KE/ml). The inhalation therapy was safe without any adverse effects and resulted in both the augmentation of antitumor cytotoxicity and the induction of TNF-α production by the alveolar macrophages.