Cellular immunity to transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. III. Effects of hydrostatic pressure therapy.

The effects of hydrostatic pressure therapy on in vitro cellular cytotoxicity responses have been studied in 19 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC). Cytotoxicity was quantitated against allogeneic targets in a microplate assay or by 51chromium isotope release. Two types of reactivity were detected, the most common being a differential cytotoxicity for targets derived from TCC, in either short-term or long-term tissue culture. This reaction is operationally termed "tumor-specific". Less frequently, a general cytotoxicity for targets of diverse histogenic origins was observed. For the present, this is termed "non-specific". Nine patients were tested before pressure therapy and of these only two gave a specific reaction and one a non-specific reaction, while six were non-reactive. Eighteen patients were tested at varying intervals after treatment and of these 11 gave a specific reaction and one a non-specific effect, while six were non-reactive. Three individuals who were non-reactive prior to therapy had a specific reaction post therapy. Two who reacted specifically before therapy became non-reactive post therapy. The results of serial in vitro testing for cytotoxicity are presented with individual case histories, tumor staging and grading and the clinical outcome of hydrostatic pressure therapy.