Changes in Lymphoreticular Tissues During Growth of a Murine Adenocarcinoma. III. Plaque-Forming Cell Response in Lymph Nodes and Spleen2

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Abstract
Changes in immune responsiveness in the lymph nodes and spleen throughout the lifespan (about 30 days) of mice bearing syngeneic mammary tumors were followed with the use of the plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). After an initial rise, the total number of competent cells in the lymph nodes fell 15 days after tumor implantation and was reduced by 38% in the terminal stages of malignancy. Changes in the spleen were more marked and also showed a fall in the ratio of competent to noncompetent cells—this appearing to be an immunosuppressive effect of the tumor. PFC/million spleen cells fell after 15 days and in the last week were reduced by over 90%. The total number of PFC/spleen increased 100% by 17 days and then decreased sharply to 70% below control levels during the last week. Transfer of spleen cells from the tumor-bearing mice to irradiated syngeneic animals revealed a large increase in the number of PFC's. Thus, in this experimental system, the number of potentially immunocompetent cells greatly increases during tumor growth, but in advanced malignancy these cells are prevented from responding to SRBC unless they are removed from the inhibitory environment of the tumor-bearing animal.

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