Immunologic aspects of the prostate

Our experiments involving the use of the Dunning R3327 adenocarcinoma as an animal model of prostatic cancer as well as clinical studies on the immunocompetence of prostatic cancer patients are described. Utilizing the Dunning tumor, we have demonstrated that this transplantable adenocarcinoma of the rat prostate was similar to human prostatic cancer with respect to its macroscopic and microscopic appearances, growth rate, growth differential in male and female recipients, and some of its metastatic potential. Cryosurgery was capable of destroying the primary tumor as it can in man. Both antibody and cellular immune responses could be produced against antigens associated with the tumor cells. Tumor-bearing rats treated by cryosurgery in combination with BCG were capable of producing an antitumor immunity that protected them from rechallenge. Clinical studies of prostatic cancer patients showed a diminished in vitro immunity, but the responses of the cancer patients were not significantly different from those of patients with benign prostatic disease.