Inconsistent response of B16 melanoma to BCG immunotherapy.
We evaluated the potential of the B16 melanoma of mice as a model system for BCG immunotherapy of malignant melanoma. We studied a variety of treatment protocols: a) BCG given simultaneously but separately with a small number of B16 cells significantly inhibited tumor growth in only three of eight experiments. b) BCG injected directly into the tumor stimulated tumor growth in three of three experiments; the stimulation was at least partially attributable to the nutrient medium in which the BCG was suspended. c) The B16 tumor was weakly immunogenic and the addition of BCG to a tumor cell vaccine offered little improvement in subsequent resistance to tumor cell challenge: d) In a model of postsurgical residual tumor, metastatic to regional lymph nodes, BCG and tumor cell vaccination did not alter the development of nodal metastases. The B16 melanoma was not a useful model system for BCG immunotherapy, because the tumor inhibition was feeble, inconsistent, and not associated with augmented tumor immunity.
D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001500:BCG Vaccine