Long-term immunological investigation of malignant intracranial gliomas.

In this study, 118 consecutive adult patients with supratentorial gliomas underwent preoperative immunological monitoring, with particular regard to B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte markers. Most patients were treated surgically and with radiotherapy. Three months later, they were readmitted for postoperative immunological investigation and follow-up control. A total of 76 cases could thus be completely investigated and were statistically eligible for evaluation. A pronounced failure of T-cell-mediated immunity was observed: "E-active" rosette-forming cells and mitogen-induced blastogenesis tests turned out to be markedly depressed, with a slight postoperative recovery. Spontaneous cell-mediated cytotoxicity was significantly (p less than 0.01) increased both in preoperative and postoperative findings. The main immunodiagnostic patterns (immunoglobulins assay, surface immunoglobulins, "mouse" rosettes) concerning the B-cell-dependent "pool" were found to be within normal limits.