Correlation of suppressor cell development in parental and F1 hybrid mouse strains with the growth of a parental tumor in vivo.

Parental AKR/J, and AKB6F1 and AKD2F1 hybrid mice were injected subcutaneously with a spontaneously arising AKR/J tumor. The highly responsive AKB6F1 strain never exhibited any depression of immune functioning during the course of tumor growth and regression. The (AKR/J) intermediately responsive strain, while able to generate a successful anti-tumor response, did display a transient reduction of immunological capability, but only during the period tumor growth and not during tumor regression. Cells able to suppress antibody, but not cell-mediated responses, were found. The unresponsive AKD2F1 strain was characterized by both a marked depression of immune responsiveness, as well as the generation of suppressor cells to both antibody, and later, cell-mediated responses. Depression of immune responsiveness, and the generation of suppressor cells, appeared to correlate with the strength or weakness of the anti-tumor response in these strains of mice.