[Effect of thymosin alpha 1 on cellular immune function in elderly patients with malignant tumor].
Yang. Yun-mei YM; Lu. Xue-ying XY; Huang. Wei-dong WD; Shen. Mei-ya MY
Key Findings
- CD4 T‑cell counts increased
- NK cell activity improved
- Quality of life scores rose
- No side effects observed
Practical Outcomes
- Thymosin‑alpha‑1 may be a safe way to enhance immune function and wellbeing in older adults with cancer, using 1.6 mg subcutaneously daily for a month then every other day. However, the evidence is limited to a short‑term trial of 30 patients, so anyone considering it should consult a healthcare professional and monitor effects closely.
Summary
A small study gave 30 older cancer patients a daily injection of thymosin‑alpha‑1 (1.6 mg) for a month, then every other day for another month. The treatment raised their helper T‑cell numbers, boosted natural killer cell activity, and made them feel better, with no reported side effects.
Abstract
To investigate the effect of thymosin alpha 1 on cellular immune function in the elderly patients with malignant tumor. Thirty patients with malignant tumor were injected with thymosin alpha 1 subcutaneously at the dose of 1.6 mg q.d. for the first month and q.o.d. for the following month. The number of T cell subgroups and the activity of NK cell in peripheral blood were detected and the quality of life of the patients were evaluated before treatment and at the end of treatment. Treatment of thymosin alpha 1 increased the number of CD4 cells and improved the NK activity, and also improved the quality of life of the elderly patients with malignant tumor. There were no side effects found. Thymosin alpha 1 can enhance the cellular immune function of the elderly patients with malignant tumor.
Study Information
pubmed
2003
10.3785/j.issn.1008-9292.2003.04.017