[Anti-tumor immune response against mouse melanoma to xenogeneic vaccination].

OBJECTIVE

To study the inhibition of melanoma growth in mice by vaccination with xenogeneic melanocytes.

METHODS

Xenogeneic vaccine was prepared from pig eye melanocytes. It was used before or after B16 melanoma challenge in C57 mice. The size of tumor was monitored. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity of mouse spleen cells was measured by 51Cr release assay. Antibody response against pig melanocytes and B16 melanoma cells were detected by indirect ELISA.

RESULTS

Preventive vaccination resulted in inhibition of tumor growth in 90% of the immunized mice, while therapeutic vaccination inhibited tumor growth in 50% of the treated mice. Specific CTL activity and antibodies in the immunized mice were detected.

CONCLUSION

Anti-tumor immune response capable of inhibiting melanoma growth can be induced by xenogeneic melanocyte vaccination.