Growth of Epidermal Tumors in Mice Painted with Methylcholanthrene and Injected with Homologous Skin Suspensions

Abstract

Injections of homologous skin suspensions in Freund's adjuvant appreciably increased the carcinogenic effect of methylcholanthrene. Four months after the first painting with methylcholanthrene, cancer was present in 11 of 16 mice injected with skin suspension, whereas only 4 of the 18 non injected mice had cancer. Serological tests demonstrated the presence of antiskin antibodies in the injected animals. The results seem to indicate that immunological mechanisms may be involved in skin carcinogenesis.