Indirect macrophage migration inhibition response to 3-M KCl extract of gastric carcinoma

With the use of indirect macrophage migration inhibition (MMI) test, the MMI response to 3-M KCl extract from gastric carcinoma or adjacent normal tissue was studied in patients with gastric carcinoma, in patients with other types of carcinoma, and in normal controls. The migration index (MI) of less than 75, which was 2 SD below the mean MI of normal controls, was considered positive. Twelve (23%) of 52 patients with gastric carcinoma showed positive response to autologous tumor extract, whereas only 2 (6%) of 35 patients responded to autologous normal tissue extract (P less than 0.03). Positive response to allogeneic gastric carcinoma extract occurred in 4 (9%) of 47 patients with gastric carcinoma and in none of 25 patients with other types of carcinoma. None of 39 patients with gastric carcinoma and 19 patients with nongastric carcinoma responded to allogeneic normal tissue extract. These results appeared to show a lower degree of sensitivity but a relatively higher degree of specificity in the indirect MMI test, as compared to those in the direct leukocyte migration inhibition test, for detection of the cell-mediated immune response to tumor-associated antigens in patients with gastric carcinoma.