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Chemically induced tumors of the rat submaxillary glands were tested for the presence of tumor antigens by in vitro leukocyte mediated cytotoxicity assays. Since it has been reported that the saliva of humans with oral cancer contains markedly elevated levels of secretory antibody, the rats' saliva specimens were also tested for blocking and/or potentiating ‘antibody’ activity. The results indicate that saliva from tumor-bearing animals potentiated tumor cell killing if either the tumor cells or leukocytes were pretreated. The effect was much more marked when tumor cells were pretreated. Furthermore, the addition of saliva to tumor cells imparted an immunologic cross reactivity which was not present with untreated tumor cells. Control saliva occasionally produced a similar effect, but not as consistently. or with the potency of saliva from tumor-bearing animals. Heat inactivation did not abrogate this potentiation. It is inferred that this may indicate a new system of immunologic surveillance, i.e. arming or potentiation of leukocytes by soluble tumor antigens in glandular secretions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the reaction of the body's own defense mechanism against cancer. Importance of tumor antigens in detecting the presence of carcinogen in tumor cells; Various approaches developed for immunodiagnosis of neoplasm; Effects of vaccination and other immunotherapeutics in the treatment of cancer.

The parotid gland and knee joint of immunized ruts were challenged with the sensitizing antigen. Sialoadenitis developed in over half of these rats alter one and three challenges via the parotid duct. On the other hand, most glands were normal after five, seven and eight intraductal challenges in spite of the presence of precipitating antibodies in the serum and hemagglutinating antibodies in the parotid saliva; in only a few animals did chronic destructive adenitis ensue. This contrasted with the incidence and severity of synovitis, which increased with the number of intra-articular injections of antigen, The non-reactivity of the gland is antigen specific in as much as acute adenitis resulted from intraductal instillation of a second antigen following multiple challenges with another one in rats sensitized with two antigens. The results evince a difference in the local reactivity between the salivary gland and synovial membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertebrates develop a highly specialized system of defense mechanisms as a result of continuous stimulation by foreign materials from the environment. Whether free in body fluids or attached to cell surfaces, antibodies play the key role in the recognition of, and protection of the body against, foreign substances. Important characteristics of anitbodies are their adaptive production as a result of antigenic stimulation and the specificity they exhibit in their reaction with the antigen that induced their production. Antibodies are present in the globulin fraction of the body fluids and are summarily called immunoglobulins. Knowledge pertaining to antibody structure has been acquired principally from research of the last two decades. During this period many important findings have been made that are applicable to other proteins; in fact, anitbodies are presently the most completely characterized of the complex proteins. This paper will encompass a brief review of the structure of antibodies. The rapid development in this field makes it difficult to ensure the inclusion of all appropriate publications, and therefore we shall refer the reader principally to the most recent review articles and books which can be examined for more detailed information. Of these, four deserve special attention: Kochwa & Kunkel (1971), Amos (1971), Merler (1970), and the Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology (1967). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]