title: T-cell tumor elimination as a result of T-cell receptor-mediated activation.
abstract: It has recently been shown that activation of murine T-cell hybridomas with antigen inhibits their growth in vitro. The "suicide" of these neoplastic T cells upon stimulation with antigen suggested the possibility that activation via the antigen-specific receptor could also inhibit the growth of neoplastic T cells in vivo. To test this, mice were subcutaneously inoculated with antigen-specific T-cell hybridomas and then treated intraperitoneally with antigen. Administration of the appropriate antigen immediately after inoculation with the T-cell hybridoma abrogated tumor formation; antigen administered after tumors had become established decreased the tumor burden and, in a substantial fraction of animals, led to long-term survival. The efficacy of antigen therapy was due to both a direct inhibitory effect on tumor growth and the induction of host immunity. These studies demonstrate the utility of cellular activation as a means of inhibiting neoplastic T-cell growth in vivo and provide a rationale for studying the use of less selective reagents that can mimic the activating properties of antigen, such as monoclonal antibodies, in the treatment of T-cell neoplasms of unknown antigen specificity.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000276:immunology; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D009113:Muramidase / Q000276:immunology; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003574:Cytochrome c Group; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D009113:Muramidase