Cellular Immunity to Tumor-Associated Antigens in Man

Abstract

IN this issue of the Journal Rocklin et al. report that lymphocytes from 12 of 18 patients with familial form of medullary thyroid carcinoma produce macrophage migration inhibitory factor when exposed to antigenic extracts from allogeneic thyroid-carcinoma cells. Furthermore, six of 12 healthy members of the patients' family, who were considered at risk of development of tumor, appeared to have cellular immunity for thyroid-carcinoma antigens. In contrast, lymphocytes from control subjects reacted in only two of 25 cases and from family members not considered at risk in two of nine cases.Rocklin's paper is interesting for at least two reasons. . . .