Experiments were performed to determine the effectiveness of Corynebacterium parvum on resistance to growth and development of tumor in the central nervous system. A syngeneic sarcoma was injected intracerebrally into C3H/HeN/MTV-negative female mice that had received intraperitoneal injections of C. parvum or saline prior to tumor inoculation or that received intraperitoneal C. parvum or saline after tumor inoculation. Groups then received an intracerebral injection of C. parvum or saline. Our results reveal that intracerebral C. parvum elicited an intracerebral inflammatory reaction which was enhanced by prior systemic priming with C. parvum. Any inflammatory reaction which was enhanced by prior systemic priming with C. parvum. Any inflammatory reaction produced by C. parvum retarded the growth of intracerebrally-implanted sarcoma and significantly increased the survival of mice bearing such tumors. These results suggest that C. parvum may be an effective therapeutic agent in the treatment of neoplasia of the central nervous system.