Immunity against avian sarcomas: a review.

Animals bearing either primary or transplantable tumors of avian sarcoma virus origin frequently mount cellular and humoral antitumor immune responses against both viral and nonviral antigenic determinants. This communication summarizes recent developments in this area, with special emphasis on the effector mechanisms of antitumor immunity in chickens. Among the topics considered are structural and antigenic aspects of avian leukosis and sarcoma viruses; virus-induced tumor-associated antigens; methods of in vivo and in vitro detection of tumor-associated antigens; and the relative importance of the bursal and thymic systems in avian antitumor immunity.