Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity to oxazolone in mice with tumors.

A murine model of immune responsiveness had been adapted to study anergic conditions associated with neoplasia. Marked anergy observed in mice bearing L1210 leukemia and P-388 lymphoma is contrasted to the minimal immune depression associated with B-16 melanotic melanoma and Sarcoma 180J. The ability of N,N-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea chemotherapy to reduce tumor burden without prolonged suppression of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity is compared to the profound suppression of the cutaneous response observed with Adriamycin cytoreductive therapy. The applications of our model are discussed in relation to tumor-associated anergy, new approaches to the evaluation of pharmaceuticals, and studies of combined chemoimmunotherapy regimens.