Generation of primary tumor-specific CTL in vitro to immunogenic and poorly immunogenic mouse tumors

This study investigated the generation of primary tumor-specific CTL activity in vitro to several mouse tumors. We report that the development of optimal primary tumor-specific CTL to the P815 mastocytoma, the EL4 thymoma, and the Lewis lung carcinoma is dependent on tumor Ags, on enhancement of T cell costimulation by B7.1, and on exogenous T helper activity in the form of IL-2 and IL-4. A relatively low concentration of IL-2 and IL-4 was required to limit the induction of lymphokine-activated killer cells. In the case of P815, the CTL were directed toward molecularly defined tumor rejection Ags. These primary cultures yielded long term T cell lines that were heterogeneous in fine tumor Ag specificity and in cytokine production.