Failure of immunogenic tumors to elicit cytolytic T cells in syngeneic hosts.

Immunogenic, methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas failed to elicit the production of rapidly cytolytic T lymphocytes in syngeneic mice, although they did elicit the production of more slowly cytotoxic cells. They were, however, susceptible to attack by cytolytic T cells from allo-immune mice and, if infected with ectromelia virus, to attack by similar cells from virus-immune, H-2 compatible mice. It is suggested that the failure to elicit cytolytic T cell production may be due to the lack of an appropriate association between tumour-specific antigens and elements of the major histocompatibility complex.