Responses of neoplasms to local immunotherapy.

Abstract

Cell-mediated immune challenge reactions to diverse antigens at tumor sites result in regressions of various types of malignant lesions. Regressions of accessible lesions vary from partial to complete and last from several months to more than 5 years. Combination of immunotherapy with other treatment modalities resulted in augmentation of antitumor effects. The required cell-mediated immunocompetence may be attained by several methods of immunopotentiation or by transfer. Antitumor activities of challenge reactions are selective for tumor cells and appear to be independent of the types of antigens used or the types of malignant neoplasms. Preliminary studies indicate that noncellular mediators derived from lymphocytes and monocytes induce antitumor activities that may be significant in the regressions of neoplasms induced by cell-mediated challenge reactions.