[Immunological regression of metastatic tumor cells after surgical excision of primary tumor (author's transl)].

Metastases in lymph nodes and lungs regressed spontaneously by surgical excision of high antigenic tumor. The regression of metastases were most frequently observed when surgical excision was performed at the elevated stage of host immunological responses against tumor. On the other hand spontaneous regression of metastases of low antigenic tumor after surgical excision was not observed at any stage of tumor growth. Therefore the grade of antigenicity of tumor cells and the strength of host specific cell-mediated immunity against the tumor might be the very important points to the regression of metastasis after the excision of primary tumor.