Enzymes in the treatment of patients with malignant lymphoma presenting with large tumor mass

Gubareva A.A.

Department of Systemic Cancer Diseases, Research Institute of Oncology and Radiology, Kiev, Ukraine

Likarska Sprava (=Vracebnoe delo)1998, Vol. 6, pp. 141-143 - ISSN 0049-6804

18 KR

Abstract available in Russian.

24 patients, aged 14 - 68 years (5 men, 19 women) were observed. 17 patients were diagnosed with Hodgkin's and 7 with non-Hodgkin's disease. Diagnosis was histologically verified. 9 patients received a primary treatment, in 15 cases disease relapses were treated. Presence of large masses of lymphatic nodes poorly resorbable against the background of polychemotherapy and at sites which were assigned for a high-total dose irradiation, which in fact would undoubtedly entail sclerosing of adjacent intact tissues, was found in all patients.
All patients received Wobenzym or Wobe-Mugos in the same regime (2 tablets 4 times a day for 3 weeks). Administration of systemic enzyme preparations was combined in 10 cases with radiotherapy, in 14 cases with polychemotherapy and in 2 cases it was administered between chemo- and radiotherapy.
Treatment efficacy was evaluated based on dynamics of clinico-laboratory parameters, tumor mass changes, and on the patient's subjective sensations (improvement, deterioration, or no change).

Before treatment, following complaints were reported:

- pain of various character, intensity and localization - 10 patients
- weakness - 7 patients
- wet cough - 1 patient
- epigastric discomfort - 2 patients
- weight loss - 2 patients
- diarrhea - 1 patient
- nausea - 1 patient
- skin itching - 1 patient

After systemic enzyme therapy, 21 patients reported improvement of their condition and less complaints. In more than 50% (13 patients), a significant improvement was reported and in 6 out of these 13 patients, a disappearance of all complaints was seen.
Enzyme administration led to a significant resorption of large tumor mass when combined with radiotherapy using standard sum focal doses 45 Gy (in 9 out of 10 cases - complete resorption) and on the background of polychemotherapy prior to radiotherapy (in 10 out of 14 cases reduction of tumor conglomerate by more than 50 %).
Administration of enzymes together with polychemotherapy led to the increase of neutrophil leukocyte count and decrease of sedimentation (more than twice) as well as to the maintaining of erythrocyte count and hemoglobin. Combination of enzyme therapy and radiotherapy significantly increased monocyte and thrombocyte count, maintained neutrophil and erythrocyte count, hemoglobin; decreased leukocyte and lymphocyte count and sedimentation.