We examined the relationship between host as well as tumor factors and postoperative survival rate in patients who received combination therapy of mitomycin C + fluoropyrimidine oral antineoplastics + protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK) (MFP therapy) after curative resection of colorectal cancer. Markers that determine prognosis, such as preoperative humoral factors (complement 3 and 4), immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP), lymphocyte transformation (cellular factors) induced by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and PSK, and various tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9) were measured. For each parameter, patients were divided into a high-level and a low-level group according to a predetermined cut-off value, and survival rates were compared between the two groups. The host factors that determined prognosis were 1-month postoperative IAP level [IAP(1M)], preoperative PHA value, and preoperative CA19-9 level. The levels of IAP(1M) <740 μg/ml, preoperative PHA ≥210 (SI value), and preoperative CA19-9 <13 U/ml were associated with a favorable prognosis. When combined with the tumor factors, the prognosis was favorable in Dukes A+B cases with preoperative CA19-9 <13 U/ml, and in Dukes C cases with preoperative PHA ≥210 SI. By the Cox proportional hazard model analysis, among IAP, PHA and CA19-9, CA19-9 was the strongest host factor associated with the prognosis of MFP therapy.

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