Effect of perorally administered BCG on recurrent breast cancer.

Twenty-eight patients with recurrent breast carcinoma were examined. Of them, 19 were evaluable for an oral route of BCG administration. Seven (37%) have had partial response (6 bone; 1 supraclavicular lymphonodus), 8 (42%) have shown no change, and 4 (21%) have shown failure. No remarkable side effects were observed by this administration. With regard to immunoresponse by oral administration of BCG, all tendencies such as increase of skin reactions, T-cells percent, PHA response of lymphocytes, and decrease of IgG FcR + T-cells useful for estimating a good prognosis. These data suggest that peroral route of BCG may produce some beneficial effects for bone metastatic lesions of recurrent breast cancer.