Delayed hypersensitivity reactions to virus-augmented syngeneic and allogeneic tumor associated antigens.

Delayed hypersensitivity (DH) reactions to intact MSV-induced tumor cells or their crude membranes (CM) were studied across the H-2 histocompatibility barrier, using the radioisotopic footpad assay. Allogeneic as well as syngeneic tumor cells or their CM produced significant DH reactions in MSV-immune mice. CM from these cells after infection with influenza virus induced a stronger tumor-specific DH reaction in immune mice than did CM from uninfected cells. These results indicate that H-2 histocompatibility is not always required for induction of a cell-mediated immune response to tumor associated antigens and support the feasibility of a tumor specific skin test in humans using CM of autologous or allogeneic cultured human tumor cells.