Abrogation of metastatic properties of tumour cells by de novo expression of H-2K antigens following H-2 gene transfection.

H-2 gene transfection was used to restore expression of H-2K antigens in metastatic and non-metastatic subclones of a murine fibrosarcoma that lack their major histocompatibility complex-encoded H-2K antigens. De novo expression of H-2K reduced tumorigenicity and abolished the formation of metastasis in syngeneic mice. Expression of H-2K may lead to effective recognition of the disseminating tumour cells by the host immune system.