The specific aims of this proposal are to investigate the mechanism of rejection of the murine ovarian teratocarcinoma that follows intraperitoneal injection of Corynebacterium parvum. We will test the hypothesis that the acute inflammatory response to the injection of microbial biologic response modifiers is capable of influencing tumor growth. The inflammatory neutrophil (PMN) is envisioned as initiating two distinct anti-tumor responses that occur sequentially. The first effect is direct tumor cell lysis induced through activation of the PMN by bacteria complexed to C'3b. Activation results in the release of reduced oxygen metabolites which lyse tumor cells within the peritoneal cavity. The second effect is the activation of tumor-cytostatic macrophages by inflammatory PMNs that have ingested bacteria. The long range goals of the proposal are to improve survival of patients with ovarian cancer. The use of the current animal model as a preclinical system for studying regional immunotherapy in human ovarian cancer is expected to lead to a better understanding of and offer insight into possible improvements in it for these patients. (TA)
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