A Phenomenon Resembling Opsonic Adherence Shown by Disaggregated Cells of the Transmissible Venereal Tumour of the Dog.

Abstract Twenty to 30 per cent of the cells in a suspension of trypsin-disaggregated tumour cells of the Transmissible Venereal Tumour of the dog exhibit a property resembling opsonic adherence. In the particular technique used this shows as rosette-formation with antibody-sensitized sheep red cells surrounding the reacting tumour cells. This phenomenon, which is a well known immunological activity of phagocytic cells, is also displayed by a considerable percentage of cells in other tumours. It is considered that the reacting cells are tumour cells and not phagocytic host cells.