Mast cell and anaphylactic antibody responses in inbred rats to syngeneic fibrosarcomas.

The mast cell content of sarcomata induced chemically in inbred rats showed wide variation. After first passage into a normal syngeneic recipient, primary tumours which were heavily infiltrated showed a complete absence of mast cells. Moreover, detectable anaphylactic antibody to passaged tumours was only occasionally detected. An important immunological role for the IgE/mast cell system in host-tumour defence is not supported.