Selective localization of radiolabeled immune lymphocytes into syngeneic tumors

Newly formed long-lived small lymphocytes (LLSL) generated during the immunization of mice to tumor specific transplantation antigens (TSTA) of syngeneic MCA-induced sarcomas were labeled. We then studied the localization of these labeled cells into tumor implants. Criss-cross experiments were performed in which MCA sarcomas with individually distinct TSTA were studied in parallel. A selective localization of LLSL into tumors to which the lymphocytes were immune was found when small tumor pieces were implanted into immune mice whose LLSL had been labeled. Selective localization was also detected upon adoptive transfer of immune LLSL to tumor-bearing mice, but only when these mice had, before transfer, received a sublethal dose of whole body irradiation