EXPRESSION OF CELL-MEDIATED-IMMUNITY AND BLOCKING FACTOR USING A NEW LINE OF OVARIAN-CANCER CELLS INVITRO

Abstract

A cell-mediated cytotoxicity test, quantitated by post-labeling with 3H-thymidine, was used to assess immune reactivity of cancer patients to the HeW cell line derived from serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary. Lymphocytes from 71.4% of serous and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma patients demonstrated a cytotoxic response towards the HeW cells, whereas no reactivity was observed towards target cells derived from nonovarian cancer. The HeW cells may express tumor-associated antigen [Ag]. In some patients bearing similar tumors, cytotoxicity was blocked by ascitic fluid from other patients with cystadenocarcinoma. Ag obtained from the spent culture fluid of HeW cells exhibited blocking activity in a typical dose-response fashion. Blocking factor may be free tumor-associated Ag or an Ag-specific suppressor molecule. Blocking of the lymphocytotoxic response of cystadenocarcinoma patients towards HeW cells may be utilized to monitor the isolation of ovarian carcinoma-associated Ag.