Sensitivity of TSTA and species-specific cell membrane antigens of tumor cells to glutaraldehyde treatment.

In vivo immunogenicity and in vitro species-specific membrane antigens in tumor cells treated or untreated with glutaraldehyde (GA) were studied. Two different syngeneic Syrian hamster transplantable tumor cell lines (spontaneous liver cancer and SV40-induced sarcoma) not only lost immunogenicity after GA treatment but were responsible for enhancement of test-tumor growth in immunized animals. In vitro mixed hemadsorption test used for determination of species-specific membrane antigens in Syrian hamster, green monkey and interspecies hybrid cells revealed drastic alteration of antigens on the membrane of cells treated with GA.