Tumor-Specific, Cell-Mediated Immunity in Guinea Pigs With Tumors

Abstract

Cell-mediated immunity to tumor-specific antigen in guinea pigs with a transplantable syngeneic tumor was measured by macrophage migration inhibition (MIF) assay, lymphocyte transformation, and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) reaction. KCI extracts (3_M) of whole tumor cells and mitomycin-C-treated tumor cells worked equally well as sources of tumor antigen for lymphocyte transformation. Tumor immunity was lower in animals with tumors than in those immunized to the tumor. The DCH test was the least sensitive test in animals with tumor. Tumor immunity was augmented and appeared earlier in animals that were immunized with a mixture of tumor cells and BCG compared with animals that were immunized with tumor cells alone or with animals that received BCG and tumor cells at separate sites as measured by the MIF assay.