Lymph node reactivity to experimental bladder tumor in preimmunized animals as measured by two parameter flow cytometry.

Lymph node lymphocyte reaction to an explanted, transplantable mouse bladder tumor (MBT-2) was investigated by flow cytometry in animals previously immunized with irradiated tumor cells. Nodal lymphocytes in representative samples from four different lymph node sites were differentially stained for DNA and RNA with the fluorescent dye acridine orange; cell proliferation and the increase in RNA content were measured. Immunization abrogated tumor growth; one immunization reduced tumor take to 25 per cent of the animals, and two immunizations to 14 per cent. Lymphocyte reactivity to the tumor was reflected both by an increase of DNA synthesizing cells and by diploid cells with high RNA. The latter response was more pronounced and thus the more sensitive parameter for measuring immunologic lymph node reactivity. The juxtatumoral node displayed the most pronounced reactivity, but all node sites showed some degree of reaction.