The virus of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis as an antineoplastic agent in man

Case Details

Disease Location

Lymph nodes

Personal Characteristics

56 -year-old female

Clinical Characteristics

First sought medical attention in january 1961 for pain in the right abdominal region that had become gradually more severe over a 4-year period a 6x20cm mass was found in the right flank, and an enlarged node was found in the left side of her neck biopsy of the submandibular mass was reported as giant follicle lymphoma undergoing change to lymphosarcoma an excretory urogram in february revealed a large mass in the right side of the abdomen, containing areas of calcification osteolytic changes were found in the right humerus and in the left tibia the patient was given chlorambucil and the right humerus was irradiated in march, the chemo regimen was changed to cytoxan and irradiation was given to the abdominal mass in april, irradiation was given to nodes in the left side of the neck in may, irradiation was given to the lumbar spine, in an efforight to relieve pain. Due to hematocrit values progressively dropping, whole blood was given prior to the admin of tc-80 virus inoculation was received on may 16, 1961. At that time, she had several small nodes in the right submandibular and posterior cervical areas, a 2x1.5cm node in the right axilla, and a 5x5cm mass in the right flank baseline leukocyte counts averaged 3k/mm^3 and platelet levels in excess of 200k/mm^3 on may 17, her temp rose to 102.8f and there was associated pain and myalgia, there followed 2 days of lower temp and absence of symptoms on may 20, she became febrile and had severe frontal headache, myalgia, nausea, and vomiting. Fever of 105.8f was reached on may 21, and this returned to base line during the next 5 days. Maintainane and IV fluids were necessary during this time on may 29, platelet count was 44k/mm^3, and leukocyte count was 450/mm^3. Some gingival bleeding waas noted and transfusions were given. Coliform organisms were recovered from the urine, and tetracycline therapy was started in june, there was no change in the irradiated right flank although there was a decrease right axillary node size. She remained hospitalized and on steroids because of continual pain

Remission Characteristics

There was resultant shrinkage of the abdominal mass after the chemo regime change she had shown a progressive drop in hematocrit values, from 37% in january to 23% in may 9 during june, leukocyte and platelet counts returned to base line levels. The right axillary node materially decreased in size

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Inoculation with tc-80 virus resulted in objective evidence of tumor regression

Clinical Treatment

Chlorambucil irradiation cytoxan (cyclophasphamide) whole blood transfusion tc-80 virus maintainance and IV fluids tetracycline therapy steroids

Non-Clinical Treatment

None reported