Effect of blood transfusions on immune function. VIII. Effect on macrophage response to tumor challenge

Blood transfusions have previously been demonstrated in Wistar-Furth rat models to impair resistance to pulmonary metastases from a colonic tumor, but not the growth of the primary tumor. Utilizing the same tumor cell line we evaluated the effect of transfusion on resistance to peritoneal spread of the tumor and on macrophage response to the transfusion. Transfusions were found to have no significant effect on survival in animals with peritoneal carcinomatosis, nor on the host response to the tumor. Transfusion failed to alter macrophage function or metabolism as measured by macrophage cytotoxcity against YAC-1 cells, by macrophage production of adenosine deaminase, by glucose metabolism, or by macrophage ATP levels. In summary, transfusions failed to alter the peritoneal resistance to tumor spread or the activity of the predominant resident peritoneal leukocyte.