Tumour sensitization obtained by injection of antigenic tumour cells into the caecal lumen of syngeneic mice

Abstract

Syngeneic viable malignant ascites cells inoculated into the caecal lumen of C 3H mice afforded protection against a subsequent intraperitoneal graft of the same tumor cells. Cell mediated as well as humoral-mediated immunity could be demonstrated by in vitro tests after lumenal intracaecal (i.c.) inoculation of the ascites cells. The immunity obtained by the i.c. route could be transferred to untreated animals by immune spleen cells and by immune serum. The effect of immune spleen cells was inhibited by treatment of the recipients with cyclophosphamide. In the presence of antigen, adoptive transfer of spleen-cell-mediated immunity induced production of specific antibodies. The spleen was not imperative for sensitization by the i.c. route.