Source of Stimulation of Tumor Inocula by Lethally Irradiated Cells.

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Abstract
Separation of supra-lethally irradiated tumor cells was carried out to determine their effectiveness in reducing tumor latency and enhancing tumor takes. These experiments indicate that the most pronounced stimulation comes from the centrifugal fraction containing the "nuclei" from supra-lethally irradiated cells. The degree of stimulation by the "nuclear" fraction closely parallels the stimulation by whole radiation killed cells. The "cytoplasmic" fraction was also capable of augmentation of tumor survival and growth, however, less than either the "nuclear" fraction or whole radiation-killed cells. Disruption of the membranes of whole cells or "nuclei" by sonication eliminated the tumor growth stimulation. A tentative mechanism is proposed for the action of radiation killed cells, "nuclei, " and "cytoplasm" in enhancing growth and survival of transplanted isologous tumors.