Bone Marrow Transplantation in Cancer Therapy: Inactivation by Antibody and Complement of Tumor Cells in Mouse Syngeneic Marrow Transplants

Abstract

Mouse bone marrow, contaminated with lymphoma cells, was treated in vitro with anti-lymphoma antiserum and complement in an effort to selectively inactivate the tumor cells. The effectiveness of this treatment was demonstrated by the successful use of such treated marrow to repopulate lethally irradiated mice without the development of tumor. This approach, if it can be applied to man, may facilitate the use of bone marrow transplantation in human cancer therapy by providing a source of tumor-free autologous marrow.