The Carcinolytic Action of Sera *

The early years of the present century witnessed the publication of a great many papers, stimulated by the work and by the theories of Bordet and Metchnikoff, dealing with the production and mode of action of cytolytic and cytotoxic sera. To the cells of very diverse mammalian tissues specific antisera exhibiting lytic action, or activities so interpreted, were produced and upon the basis of inference many theories were developed concerning a variety of pathologic conditions. Experience has shown, however, that little of practical value has resulted from the demonstration of antibodies of this type, if the hemolysin, which is of such wide application as an indicator in serologic technic, be exduded. Until recently but little further attention has been paid to antibodies of this character, although from time to time attempts have been made to find in such serological methods a means for detecting malignancy. Freund and Kaminer, Lehmann-Facius, Neuberg, and Lumsden have all developed technics involving basically the cytolytic or cytotoxic principle. Some of these methods make use of native sera, others develop antisera by artificial immunization, but all are directed toward demonstrating an effect of the serum upon carcinoma cells or on a derivative of these cells. The renewed activity along these lines has been attended by an intensive search for possible specific antigenic components in cancer tissue, and, indeed, such have been found, with further proof that such antigens can serve for inducing specific reacting-bodies under experimental conditions. However, despite all demonstrations of this kind none of the serological reactions based upon earlier technical methods has proved to be even moderately satisfactory when applied to diagnostic ends. Thus it is that the reaction described by Lehmann-Facius, the so-called carcinolytic action, might seem to offer possibilities not only of development into a practical laboratory technic, but also for determining certain facts with regard to the relationship of carcinoma to diverse serological changes. Examination of the papers of Lehmann-Facius would suggest that from the technical standpoint the distinguishing feature of such tests