CHSJ

Curr Health Sci J, vol. 38, no. 3, 2012

An immunohistological study of the presence of inflammatory cells in malignant brain tumors

[Original paper]

DIANA STANCA(1), STEFANIA CRAITOIU(2), VALERICA TUDORICA(1), CARMEN ALBU(1), OANA ALEXANDRU(1), DENISA PIRSCOVEANU(1), F. TRIFAN(1), CORNELIA ZAHARIA(1)

1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Department of Neurology, 2University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova, Department of Histology


Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to appreciate if there is an immune response in malignant brain tumors. Material and methods: Eleven astrocytomas of varying histological features were immunohistologically studied, using a panel of monoclonal antibody against CD20cy to highlight T-lymphocytes, CD3 for B-lymphocytes and CD68 as marker of the macrophages. Ki67 antibody was used as marker of proliferation. We evaluated the presence of these markers in peritumoral stroma and intratumoral tissue. Results: In our study, none of the astrocytic tumors studied showed B-lymphocytes. The presence of T lymphocytes was evidenced in all 11 selected cases. While low-grade astrocytomas showed positive CD3 immunostaining only in tumoral cells, anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas revealed positive immunostaining also in perivascular space. As it was expected, mean values for proliferative marker Ki-67 revealed that there was a significant difference between the indices of low- (grade II) and high-grade tumors (grade III and IV) (P<0.05), but not between grade III and IV tumors (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the numbers of macrophages and T-lymphocytes in astrocytic tumors are related to highly malignant histological features. The presence of these cells in such a kind of neoplastic lesions raises questions concerning the possible immune response and the possible relation of this to prognosis.


Keywords: astrocytoma, glioblastoma, immunohistochemistry, T-lymphocytes, macrophages



Corresponding: iana Stanca MD, PhD Student, Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, StrPetruRares nr. 4, 200456, Craiova, Dolj, Romania, E-mail: diana_stanca@yahoo.com


DOI 10.12865/CHSJ.38.03.05 - Download PDF
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