Embryonic antigens and growth of murine fibrosarcomata

The amount of embryonic antigens (EA) was estimated in 13 BALB/c fibrosarcomata by in vitro cell mediated cytotoxicity of anti-embryo spleen cells and by quantitative absorption of an anti-embryo antiserum. A direct relationship between amount of EA and tumour growing capacity was found. EA were detected also on fast dividing testicular cells. It is suggested that EA expression on tumour cells is related to a cell membrane function controlling mitosis rather than to a function specifically related to the neoplastic status. Tumour take of low doses of 2 EA-bearing sarcomata was found to be enhanced in anti-embryo immune BALB/c mice in comparison with that in normal and anti-fibroblast immune mice.