Tumour immunobiology

A hypothesis for the interactional mechanism between tumour cells and the lymphopoeitic system, with its resulting sequence of immune depression is outlined, along with a review of the current literature relating to this area. The concept that the tumour cell surface is responsible not only for loss of cell surface contact inhibition, but also protecting itself from the lymphopoeitic elements that come into contact with it by infecting them with nucleic acid particles produced by its excessive nuclear turnover, is espoused, with a variety of supporting data.