Response of the immune system of mammary tumor-bearing rats to cyclophosphamide and soluble low-molecular mass tumor-associated antigens: the spleen and lymph nodes

In a previous study, we showed that soluble low-molecular-mass tumor-associated antigens (sTAA) promote the anti-tumor effect of the anticancer drug cyclophosphamide (CPA) on rat mammary carcinogenesis. In this report, we analyzed the underlaying mechanisms. Studies were performed on the spleen and lymph nodes from the following groups of mammary tumor-bearing rats: i) control rats, ii) rats treated with sTAA, iii) rats treated with CPA, i.v.) rats treated with CPA and sTAA. Different zones of the spleen and lymph nodes were measured and their T cell content (CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells) was analyzed immunohistochemically. CPA decreased the size and cell content of follicles, splenic areas related to the production of B cells, of the marginal zone and to a lesser extent of the periarterial lymph sheath, and decreased the number of CD4(+) and, at a lower rate, of CD8(+ )T cells in the spleen. Addition of sTAA restored activity in the splenic zones producing these cells. Similar effects of CPA and sTAA were found in lymph nodes with accumulation of B lymphocytes in the primary and secondary follicles and of T lymphocytes, including both CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells, in the paracortical zone. We suggest that inhibition of the functional activity of the immune system is one of the main reasons for the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs such as CPA and that the tumor-suppressive antitoxic effects of sTAA result from their activation of B- and T-lymphocyte production in this system, particularly in the spleen and lymph nodes.