Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with Transfer Factor I

Epstein-Barr virus, the apparent cause of infectious mononucleosis, may also be an etiological agent in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Burkitt 's lymphoma. Lymphocytes from normal individuals with anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibody activity may be sensitized to Epstein-Barr virus and contain transfer factor with the potential to program and/or recruit other lymphocytes to react against the virus and/or viral antigens. A patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma refractory to conventional therapy was treated with transfer factor obtained from normal, young adults with a previous history of infectious mononucleosis. Fol lowing immunotherapy, apparent slowing of tumor growth was observed, which was associated with intense lymphocytic infi l tration of the tumor and reconstitution of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions to microbial recall antigens. A double-blind randomized clinical trial has been initiated to determine whether transfer factor immunotherapy is a useful adjunct to radiotherapy in the primary treatment of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. If successful, a similar trial might be considered for African patients with Burkitt 's lymphoma.