PGE restores the immune response in chemotherapy-treated, tumor-bearing mice

Two hundred seventy-one B-16 melanoma-bearing mice were randomized and treated for 4 days with either control diluent, 10 micrograms of 16,16-dimethyl-PGE2-methyl-ester (di-M-PGE2), chemotherapy, or chemotherapy plus di-M-PGE2. The chemotherapeutic regimens included adriamycin (7.5 mg/kg), 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/kg), nitrogen mustard (5 mg/kg), and vincristine (0.5 mg/kg). The number of plaque-forming cells and hemagglutinin titers in response to sheep erythrocytes were used as measures of humoral immunity while cellular immunity was assessed by evaluation of delayed hypersensitivity. As we previously reported, the presence of subcutaneous B-16 tumors induced substantial immunosuppression and this suppression was reversed by treatment with di-M-PGE2. Treatment with all four chemotherapeutic agents induced profound immunosuppression. Similarly, the addition of di-M-PGE2 to the chemotherapy protocols resulted in significant augmentation of cellular and humoral immunity.