Cell‐mediated immune reaction to two gynecologic malignant tumors

Peripheral blood lymphocytes extracted from patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix and adenocarcinoma of the ovary were demonstrated to be cytotoxic in vitro to malignant cells of the same origin as grown in tissue culture. The two malignant tumors studied appear to have tumor‐specific surface antigens which behave in a manner similar to transplantation antigens. The interactions between lymphocytes and malignant cells were observed and recorded. Evidence is presented suggesting that patients bearing these malignancies have presensitized peripheral blood lymphocytes capable of immediate interaction in vitro as compared with lymphocytes from normal healthy individuals which exhibit a delayed cytotoxic effect.