Immunogenicity and cross-reactivity of syngeneic murine melanomas.

Non-melanoma skin cancers induced in mice by chemical carcinogens or ultraviolet radiation are often antigenic but rarely induce cross-protective immunity when tested by in vivo transplantation methods. We wished to determine whether melanocytic skin tumors behave similarly or whether they exhibit cross-reactive antigens in vivo. Three melanomas induced in C3H/HeNCr(MTV-) mice by initiation with ultraviolet radiation and promotion with croton oil or initiation with 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene and promotion with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate or croton oil plus ultraviolet radiation were tested for immunogenicity and cross-reactivity in vivo. The three melanomas were highly immunogenic, and all induced some degree of protection against the other melanomas. Non-melanoma skin cancers induced by the same carcinogens were less immunogenic and did not immunize against the melanomas. We conclude that unlike other skin cancers, melanocytic tumors induced by chemical carcinogens and ultraviolet radiation are highly cross-reactive in vivo and thus represent a unique subset of murine skin cancers.