Isoantibodies to Human Cancer Cells in Cancer Patients Following Cancer Homotransplants

Abstract

Homotransplants of human cancer cells were made in patients with cancer of various types and in various stages of progression. Tissue-cultured cancer cell lines (HEp 2, HEp 3 or RPMI 41) were used for 28 recipients, and cell suspensions prepared from surgical specimens were used for another 12. Homologous leukocytes or other non-neoplastic cells were admixed with some of the inocula. Sera collected at frequent but irregular intervals were tested for reaction with antigens prepared from HEp 2 cells, using the tanned erythrocyte agglutination technique. All pretransplantation sera gave negative tests. Twenty-three of the 28 recipients of tissue-cultured cells developed antibody at serum dilution titers of 1:10 to 1:40, usually by 14 days after transplantation. Five of the 12 direct homotransplant recipients developed antibody, but titers were only 1:5 or 1:10. As previously reported, rejection of these cancer cell homografts in cancer patients was significantly delayed in about half of the recipients—as compared with rate of rejection in healthy recipients. There was no consistent relationship between homotransplant behavior and antibody response. The role of serum antibody in homograft rejection, and the ability of cancer patients to produce serum antibody, are discussed briefly.