Inhibition of murine plasmocytoma tumours with antibody activity by their respective specific antigens.

Three murine plasmocytoma tumour which secrete specific antibodies have been studied for the effect of specific antigens (pneumococcal C polysaccharide and dinitrophenylated bovine gamma globulin) on the growth of these tumours in vivo. In each case, the effect of the specific antigen was to inhibit the growth of that tumour which synthesized the specific antibody. Low molecular weight haptens had no effect on tumour growth. We suggest that this antigen specific growth inhibitory effect is a function of the antigen's binding to membrane bound antibody resulting in defective membrane function.