The definitive value of active-specific immunotherapy for experimental carcinoma of the colon.
Active-specific immunotherapy with concanavalin A or with neuraminidase-modified syngeneic tumor cells has been studied in an experimental model of colon cancer. Systemic immunotherapy with concanavalin A-modified tumor cells or with neuraminidase-modified tumor cells has resulted in up to 70 percent cure of rats receiving a lethal inoculum of tumor in a model tumor system which otherwise proved 80 percent lethal to untreated hosts. The possible mechanisms whereby neuraminidase or concanavalin A are effective cell-surface modifiers for active-specific immunotherapy are discussed. In vitro studies suggest markedly heightened antigenic recognition following immunization with concanvalin A-modified syngeneic tumor cells. These studies represent the first apparent evidence for the definitive value of systemic active-specific immunotherapy for the adjuvant treatment of large bowel cancer.
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007114:Immunization; D007167:Immunotherapy; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy*; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D003208:Concanavalin A; D009439:Neuraminidase