抄録
The humoral and cellular immunity of fifty-two patients with malignant brain tumor was analysed by measurement of various immunological parameters with regard to their clinical condition, which was divided into three stages; initial, recurrent and terminal. Immunological parameters analysed in this study were the level of immunoglobulin, number of lymphocytes, percentage of IgG Fc receptor positive T cells, blastogenesis with PHA, PPD skin test and T cell subsets. T cell subsets were studied by flow cytometry using OKT monoclonal antibodies. The immunity of the patients with malignant brain tumor was almost normal in the initial stage and decreased in the recurrent and terminal stages. Especially, the percentage of OKT 4 positive cells in lymphocytes decreased and the percentage of OKT 8 positive cells in T cells increased with deterioration of the clinical stages. Consequently the ratio of OKT 4 to OKT 8 positive cells decreased markedly.
The effect interferon (IFN) as a biological response modifier was also analysed by T cell subsets in nine patients with recurrent malignant brain tumor. After administration of IFN, the percentage of OKT 4 positive cells in T cells increased and consequently the ratio of OKT 4 to OKT 8 positive cells increased.
