Specific enhancement of tumor growth and depression of cell-mediated immunity following sensitization to soluble tumor antigens.

W/Fu rats inoculated s.c. with less than or equal to 5 x 10(7) syngeneic (C58NT)D (Gross virus-positive) lymphoma tumor cells normally develop a palpable tumor which reaches its maximum size (12 to 14 mm) at 6 to 8 days and is subsequently rejected by 10 to 12 days. However, rats previously sensitized with soluble tumor antigens from (C58NT)D cells prior to (C58NT)D tumor inoculation demonstrate a significant enhancement of tumor growth (the tumor reaches up to 26 mm and is rejected by 16 to 18 days). This enhancement persisted in antigen-treated rats that continued to receive soluble antigen after tumor inoculation. The in vivo enhancement coincided with a significant in vitro depression of cell-mediated cytotoxicity [assessed with 51Cr-labeled (C58NT)D target cells and peripheral blood leukocytes]. The observed tumor enhancement was specific, inasmuch as presensitization to either soluble tumor antigens from WR6 (Gross virus-negative) tumor, syngeneic to W/Fu rats, or to soluble antigen from W/Fu spleen cells had no enhancing effect on (C58NT)D tumor growth. Interestingly, sensitization to soluble tumor antigen alone did not elicit detectable cell-mediated immunity, cytotoxic antibody, or serum-blocking activity to the (C58NT)D tumor. We conclude that sensitization to soluble tumor antigens specifically impairs the immune apparatus normally acting in tumor rejection. This impairment appears to act primarily at the induction phase of the immune response.