Burkitt's Lymphoma: Remissions Following Seemingly Non-specific Therapy

Abstract

Long-term remissions observed in four out of eight unselected patients with Burkitt's lymphoma following seemingly non-specific treatment with Septicemine, are described. This is regarded as strong evidence of an effective immunological response.

Case Details

Disease Location

Right maxilla, right orbit, intracranial

Personal Characteristics

9 -year-old male

Clinical Characteristics

Admitted with a massive tumor of his right maxilla with advanced orbital invasion and extension into the mouth his general condition was extremely poor he was treated with methotrexate and septicemine 6 weeks later, as much as possible of the residual mass was excised 2 months later, marked tumor recurrence was noted. Treatment with septicemine was started again he eventually developed intracranial complications and died 6 months later, 10 months after initial admission

Remission Characteristics

Marked tumor remission and improvement in his general condition occurred within period of treatment another 2 months after restarting treatment, there was an almost complete remission

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

Either the treatment or an immunological mechanism host response to cytotoxic therapy an immunological response to tumor trauma, i.e. Tumor-antibody formation host defense mechanisms

Clinical Treatment

Methotrexate and septicemine

Non-Clinical Treatment

None reported