Bacillus Calmette‐guérin Contact Immunotherapy of Local and Metastatic Deposits of Rat Tumors*

Abstract

Adjuvant contact therapy with BCG can be used to control tumor deposits at local subcutaneous sites and at other sites, particularly pulmonary metastases and pleural tumor growths. This treatment method is generally quantitatively more effective than general immunostimulation, or active immunotherapy that employs vaccines of adjuvant and tumor cells. Furthermore, this treatment is effective in hosts that lack full immunocompetence, making it still feasible in immunosuppressed patients. The current evidence indicates that local activation of host macrophages is probably the essential effector mechanism of adjuvant contact therapy.

BCG treatment of transplanted rat tumours of spontaneous origin

“…These include adjuvant contact therapy where agents are presented so as to infiltrate into tumour deposits, and active specific immunotherapy in which adjuvants are incorporated into tumourantigen containing vaccines for specific enhancement of tumour immune responses Baldwin et al, 1976;Pimm and Baldwin, 1977).…”

“…Studies with a range of carcinogen-induced rat tumours, especially 3-methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas, have identified approaches in which bacterial agents such as bacillus Calmette-GuQin (BCG) and subcellular preparations including the methanol extraction residue, MER, as well as Corynebacterium parvum can be used for immuno-therapy. These include adjuvant contact therapy where agents are presented so as to infiltrate into tumour deposits, and active specific immunotherapy in which adjuvants are incorporated into tumourantigen containing vaccines for specific enhancement of tumour immune responses Baldwin et al, 1976;Pimm and Baldwin, 1977).…”

Preferential Induction of Cell-Mediated Immunity by Chemically Modified Carcinoembryonic Antigen

“…Tumor antigens in cluding tumor-associated antigens are frequently found to be poor immunogens in syngeneic animals [1,2], Enhancement of immune reactions against these antigens, therefore, is of central importance in tumor immunology.…”

Natural killer-like activity induced in spleen by IP injection of BCG

“…The adjuvant effect of B C G in anticancer therapy now appears to be well established [1,2,3,17,19]. Nevertheless, the m e c h a n i s m of its action has not been completely elucidated.…”