A Role for Anaphylactic Sensitization in Tumor Control

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Abstract
In order to evaluate the possible preventive role of an anaphylactic condition on tumor development, C57BL/6J mice were immunized or hyperimmunized by the intraperitoneal route with egg albumin in alum before the chemical induction of fibrosarcoma. Preimmunization using a protocol which elicits an optimal IgE response produced: (1) a significant reduction of tumor incidence; (2) an increase of survival time, and (3) a decrease of tumor growth rate in animals with higher IgE titers (> 640). On the other hand, hyperimmunized mice, which were suppressed in their anti-egg albumin IgE response, showed no changes in tumor incidence and survival time when compared to controls. Our results suggest a suppressive effect on tumor development related to the ability of the animal to mount an IgE response to antigens unrelated to the tumor.