Abstract
Lymphocyte subpopulations were monitored by means of monoclonal antibodies in 89 patients with primary or metastatic malignant brain tumors. In 27 normal volunteers, the ratio of helper/inducer (Leu 3a) to suppressor/cytotoxic (Leu 2a) T cells was 1.84 ± 0.32 (mean ± SD). The ratio decreased to 1.21 ± 0.34 in 32 patients who were newly diagnosed as malignant gliomas, and to 1.01 ± 0.34 in 21 patients with metastatic brain tumors. Among patients with malignant gliomas whose Karnofsky performance status was over 40%, the ratio increased during remission and/or when computed tomography showed tumor reduction. These results suggest that the suppressor T cells are more prevalent than helper T cells in patients with malignant brain tumors. Furthermore, immunosuppression and tumor load appear to be related, since the Leu 3a:Leu 2a ratio increased following effective treatment and tumor reduction in patients with Karnofsky ratings of over 40% but decreased in patients who were in the terminal stage of their disease.
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