Genetically engineered tumor cells secreting immunostimulatory molecules could facilitate the obtention of a vaccination against tumor antigens. To test this approach, we transfected genes encoding for rat and mouse IL-2 into PROb cells. These cells originate from a dimethylhydrazine induced colon carcinoma of BD IX rats. We observed an inhibition of the in vivo tumor growth directly proportional to the IL-2 secretion. An immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the tumors were infiltrated by leucocytes expressing the IL-2 receptor, suggesting their activation within the tumor. A strong delay of tumor growth was observed in rats challenged with PROb cells after a previous rejection of IL-2 secreting cells. Yet two rats out of six were completely protected. This protection is specific since rejection of PROb-IL-2 does not confer protection towards the syngeneic glioma A15A5. In addition, we could show by depletion experiments that NK/LAK, CD8, and CD4 lymphocytes were involved in the rejection of cells secreting large amounts of IL-2. Macrophages appear to be involved in the rejection process too, but also in the induction of an immune memory. Vaccination experiments using irradiated PROb IL-2 cells were performed. Only a partial protection towards a challenge with parental PROb cells could be obtained, also depending on the amount of secreted IL-2: the best protection being obtained after vaccination with cells synthesizing a small amount of IL-2. However, this protection was not superior to that obtained by coinjection of irradiated PROb cells and BCG.