Effects of thymus grafts in nude mice transplated with human malignant tumors.
The effect of neonatal thymus grafts implanted in nude mice previously transplanted with three different human malignant tumors - an adenocarcinoma of the colon, a malignant melanoma and a Burkitt's lymphoma - were studied. In all immunologically reconstituted animals tumord were rejected. Tumor rejection stated 2-3 weeks after thymus implantation, and was completed after 30-6 weeks. Histological examination of lymphoid tissues showed a correlation between immunological reconstitution and tumor rejection. The rejection process showed a characteristic histologic picture with 3 phases - an early, an intermediate and a late phase - these were similar in the three tumor types examined. The possible mechanisms of reconstitution and tumor rejection are discussed.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous