Suppressor cells in the pelvic lymph nodes regional to bladder cancer.

Regional lymph node cells from some patients with locally advanced bladder carcinoma were found to inhibit the reactivity of normal and autologous peripheral blood lymphocytes in mixed leukocyte culture. The data suggest that suppressor cells are generated in draining lymph nodes of these patients by a high concentration of tumor-derived products and may have suppressive influence on host immunologic defense mechanisms.