The immunologic responsiveness of regional lymphocytes in experimental cancer

This report presents data showing that regional lymph node lymphocytes differ in their immunologic activity from distant lymphocytes and splenic lymphocytes during the initiation and progression of murine mammary adenocarcinoma. Three groups of 100 C3H/He J mice received subcutaneously 10-6 viable tumor cells (I), 10-3 tumor cells (II), or Millipore chambers containing 10-6 viable tumor cells (III). Lymphocytes from different areas in Groups I, II, III, and non-tumor-bearing controls were cultured with PHA-P, autologous tumor, or normal C3H/He J breast tissue. In all groups regional lymph node lymphocytes showed the earliest peak response to PHA-P and autologous tumor, while the splenic lymphocyte and distant lymphocyte responses were delayed, especially in Group III. These studies demonstrate the role of the regional lymph node in the initial processing of tumor antigenic information. The development of central immunity appears to be the result of dissemination of immunogenic tumor products. This may be mediated initially by the regional lymph node.