Treatment of large airway obstruction due to lung cancer with local injection of Immusyn via bronchoscopy

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-9448.2001.03.002

Abstract：Objective　To investigate the efficacy and safety of local injection of Immusyn, a para tolunsulfonamide compound which is a tumor nacrotizing agent, into the tumor in large airway via fibrobronchoscopy.Methods　22 patients with lung cancer (5 with stage Ⅲa, 17 with stage Ⅲb and Ⅳ) were enrolled into the study. Large airway obstruction due to tumor invasion was confirmed by fibrobronchoscopy and biopsy. Injection of Immusyn into the tumor inside the lumen of large airway was conducted two times a week (3～5 points of injection with total volume of 3～5 ml). The treatment was repeated 4～16 times (6.5±2.5).Results　Tumor necrosis occurred after injection. The necrosis tumor tissue appeared to be white and/or black in color after injection, which was obviously different from adjacent normal tissue and was easy to be removed through fibrobronchoscopy. Necrosis of the removed tissue was confirmed by pathological examination. After 2 to 6 weeks of treatment, complete relief of large airway obstruction (CR) was shown in 7 cases, partial relief (PR) in 12 cases and no change (NC) in 3 cases. The total effective rate was 86.4%. Adverse effects were rare, with slight somnolence, anorexia and diarrhea in some patients, which recovered spontaneously. Severe dyspnea occurred in one patient when she received the injection for the second time, who was completely recovered after intubation and mechanical ventilation for 3 days.Conclusion　Local injection of Immusyn is an effective treatment in relieving large airway obstruction due to malignant tumor.