From: Billi Goldberg <bigoldberg@igc.apc.org>
Subject: DNCB and Cancer
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6621
Organization: unspecified
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 92 00:11:05 PST

I found 826 references when I checked for DNCB in MEDLINE from 1966 to 
1992. The following are some of the most significant. As I have 
mentioned before, there is a great deal of similarity between AIDS and 
Cancer. Both involve infection of or abnormal cells which are controlled 
in healthy individuals primarily by the cell mediated (Th1) immune 
response rather than the humoral (Th2) response.

The first reference mentions DNCB as a part of the therapeutical group 
known as Biological Response Modifiers (BRM). Cytokines also belong to 
this group.
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Truchetet F; Heid E; Friedel J; Chartier C; Grosshans E. D.N.C.B. for 
malignant melanoma: significance in the treatment strategy. Anticancer 
Research, 1989 Nov-Dec, 9(6):1531-6. 

Abstract: 2-4 Dinitrochlorobenzene (D.N.C.B.) is a synthetic primary 
allergenic molecule which has proved to have at least two useful 
clinical applications as regards neoplastic conditions. As a diagnostic 
measure, it serves in the detection of global alterations of cellular 
immunity. As a therapeutical measure, its epicutaneous use has proved to 
stimulate immune defence reactions loco-regionally if not systemically. 
This second property finds an important field of application in the 
treatment of malignant melanoma (M.M.), the reason for this being that 
natural immune defence reactions seem to play an important role in the 
natural history of this type of tumor. This review collects literature 
data on the therapeutical use of D.N.C.B: which, together with personal 
cases, show that this type of treatment may be proposed as a palliative 
measure for the treatment of skin metastases or as an adjuvant measure 
for surgery in the treatment of M.M. with surgically accessible 
metastases. D.N.C.B. appears to be part of a new therapeutical group, 
the Biological Response Modifiers (B.R.M.), and would seem to have a 
place in future treatment protocols associating B.R.M. with other 
treatment methods (e.g. chemotherapy). 
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Levis WR; Kraemer KH; Klingler WG; Peck GL; Terry WD. Topical 
immunotherapy of basal cell carcinomas with dinitrochlorobenzene. Cancer 
Research, 1973 Nov, 33(11):3036-42. 

Summary: One hundred thirteen tumors in 5 dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-
sensitized patients with multiple basal cell carcinomas were treated 
with topical DNCB. Thirty-six of the 113, or 32%, showed complete 
clinical regression, for periods of 5 to 18 months. An additional 29% 
(33 or 113) showed partial regression. DNCB induced only 15 to 25% 
complete regression in 4 of the 5 patients, whereas 21 of 30, or 70% of 
basal cell carcinomas treated with DNCB underwent complete regression in 
the 5th patient. In addition to variation of patient response, there was 
variation of response of tumors on the same patient. Photographic data 
presented separately are of a 6th patient with uncountable confluent 
basal cell carcinomas who responded well to DNCB, but in whom accurate 
quantification on an individual tumor basis was not possible.

  Controls in this study included 63 untreated tumors that were adjacent 
to and distant from treated tumors. These control tumors no evidence of 
regression. Eleven tumors treated with inert vehicles did not respond. 
One subject with over 100 nodular basal cell carcinomas become tolerant 
to DNCB and failed to respond to high concentrations of the drug. Croton 
oil, a primary irritant that induces inflammation without evidence of 
cell-mediated immunity, did cause complete regression in 6 of 26 (23%) 
treated tumors.

  The mechanism of DNCB-induced regression of basal cell carcinoma 
remains unknown. the disappearance of locally invasive human cancer 
following the therapeutic imposition of a controlled allergic contract 
dermatitis provides a useful model for the study of immunotherapy of 
cancer in humans.
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Stjernsward J; Levin A. Delayed hypersensitivity-induced regression of 
human neoplasms. Cancer, 1971 Sep, 28(3):628-40. 

Abstract: Delayed hypersensitivity reactions were induced over primary 
and metastatic tumors of the skin in patients with basal cell carcinoma, 
mycosis fungoides, lymphoma metastatic to the skin, and carcinoma of the 
breast metastatic to the skin. Patients were sensitized with 2000 
milligrams dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), following by local application 
of 100 milligrams DNCB over tumor and normal skin; 20/21 patients were 
sensitized to DNCB. In 12/19 patients, the delayed hypersensitivity 
reaction over tumor tissue was greater than over normal skin. In 13 
patients, regression of treated tumor nodules compare to untreated 
nodules was noted. Not only primary skin cancers but also carcinomas and 
lymphomas metastatic to the skin regressed. These findings have 
relevance to the existence of an immunologic surveillance mechanism in 
the cancer patient. 
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Petrelli R; Cotlier E; Robins S; Stoessel K. Dinitrochlorobenzene 
immunotherapy of recurrent squamous papilloma of the conjunctiva.  
Ophthalmology, 1981 Dec, 88(12):1221-5.                       
                                                                
Abstract: Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) immunotherapy of a recurrent 
conjunctival papilloma was employed successfully in a 24-year-old man. 
Previous attempts at electrocautery, surgical excision, and cryosurgery 
met without success. The tumor response to DNCB therapy resulted in 
total eradication of the tumor and represents a more successful modality 
than previous treatments. Poor patient compliance, variable patient 
immune mechanisms, and tumor size may influence the variable patient 
immune mechanisms, and tumor size may influence the fate and type of 
response to DNCb immunotherapy. DNCB therapy should be considered in the 
treatment of conjunctival papillomas refractory to conventional modes of 
therapy.
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