Renal cell carcinoma: tumor membrane lymphocyte stimulation assay.

A tumor plasma membrane LSA has been developed to measure cell-mediated immunity in patients with renal cell carcinoma. In this assay system, plasma membranes are adjusted to antigenic equivalence with the use of HLA as a plasma membrane marker. Fifteen patients were studied; 6 of 8 had a significant response to autologous tumor (P less than 0.05). Of 7 patients studied with allogeneic tumor, only 1 was responsive. Various parameters of the tumor membrane LSA are discussed, including dose response, kinetics, and method of data presentation.