Objective: To study the inhibition of melanoma growth in mice by vaccination with xenogeneic melanocytes.
Methods: Xenogeneic vaccine was prepared from pig eye melanocytes. It was used before or after B16 melanoma challenge in C57 mice. The size of tumor was monitored. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity of mouse spleen cells was measured by 51Cr release assay. Antibody response against pig melanocytes and B16 melanoma cells were detected by indirect ELISA.
Results: Preventive vaccination resulted in inhibition of tumor growth in 90% of the immunized mice, while therapeutic vaccination inhibited tumor growth in 50% of the treated mice. Specific CTL activity and antibodies in the immunized mice were detected.
Conclusion: Anti-tumor immune response capable of inhibiting melanoma growth can be induced by xenogeneic melanocyte vaccination.