Transplantation of the B16-F10 melanoma to the anterior chamber of the eye uniquely fails to elicit elevation in plasma proteinase activity.

Transplantation of B16-F10 melanoma cells to C57BL/6 mice led to increased levels of plasma proteinase activity in tumor-bearing mice if the tumor was transplanted to a subcutaneous site or intraperitoneally. However, transplantation of the tumor cells to the anterior chamber of the eye did not induce elevations in plasma proteinase activity. This latter result was observed when the tumor cells were transplanted to intact or splenectomized animals. These results indicate that tumors in the anterior chamber of the eye are perceived in a unique fashion by the host and that host systems, rather than the tumor, are responsible for the altered plasma proteinase activity observed in animals bearing the tumor at other sites. The failure of animals bearing intraocular tumors to develop elevated proteinase activation appeared to be a result of a failure of such tumors to impinge on specific host systems rather than the induction of a deviated host response.