Lymphocyte cytotoxicity against autologous bladder tumor cells in humans, investigated by use of a chromium-51 release assay.

A technique for isolation of a single cell suspension of viable tumor cells from bladder tumor biopsies is described. By application of the tumor cells as targets in a 51chromium release assay, the cytotoxicity of autologous lymphocytes was measured in 38 patients with transitional-cell tumors of the urinary bladder. The lymphocyte-medicated cytotoxicity was evaluated in relation to the histological grade and clinical stage of the bladder tumors. No significant correlations were found between the autologous cytotoxicity and the grade or stage of the bladder tumors.