Decrease in mammary tumour incidence in virgin C3H mice given interferon only while suckling.

A high proportion of females of the C3H strain of mice develop tumours of the mammary gland which are caused by mouse mammary tumour virus (MMTV) transmitted through the milk. We have examined whether administration of mouse interferon (IFN) to nursing mothers and/or their suckling offspring only during the period of nursing, can affect the incidence of tumours developing in these animals. In two separate experiments, animals receiving IFN by direct injection while suckling, and remaining virgin showed a marked and statistically significant decrease in tumour incidence. Mice receiving the same or a tenfold higher dose of IFN while lactating showed no such reduction in tumour incidence, even if they had also received IFN while suckling. The results suggest that IFN can affect the initial establishment of the MMTV infection in suckling mice sufficiently to delay tumour development provided the animals are not exposed to the hormonal stimulus of pregnancy and lactation.

Hodgkin's disease in Greece: a retrospective clinicopathologic study of 78 cases.

The Rye histologic classification of Hodgkin's disease has been applied retrospectively to a series of 78 previously untreated cases of Hodgkin's disease. The patients have been followed for periods varying from 1 to 12 years. Mixed cellularity was the most common histologic type. Nodular sclerosis had an intermediate frequency, and lymphocytic predominance and lymphocytic depletion showed the lowest incidence. The sex incidence showed a male predominance in all histologic types except the nodular sclerosis, where prevalence of females was noted. The study confirms the better prognosis of the lymphocytic predominance and nodular sclerosis in comparison with the poor prognosis of the mixed cellularity and the very poor prognosis of the lymphocytic depletion. Nodular sclerosis presented with higher incidence in the mediastinum; it occurred mainly in young females and it exhibited a relatively good prognosis, findings which support the accepted view that nodular sclerosis comprises a distinct clinical and biological type of the disease. A marked difference in the survival rates in Stages I and II as compared to those of Stages III and IV was found.