Growth inhibition of malignant hypernephroma cells by autologous lysophospholipid incubated macrophages obtained by a new method.

In order to obtain pure human macrophages, mononuclear cells from peripheral blood were cultured on teflon membranes and the non-adherent lymphocytes removed. After 24 hours, all remaining adherent cells were detached from the membranes with 100% viability. They showed all the morphological and cytochemical characteristics of human monocytes. Within 10 days of cultivation they differentiated into monolayers of pure macrophages. Untreated macrophages of this origin showed only limited cytostatic effects on autologous hypernephroma cells in vitro. After preincubation with different alkyl-lysophospholipids they revealed a tumor growth inhibition capability of up to 90%.