[Immunological monitoring of brain tumors--prognosis based on T-lymphocyte subpopulations and skin testing for delayed hypersensitivity].

: We have already reported on the usefulness of the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test and the purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test in predicting the prognosis of brain tumor patients. This paper outlines our investigation of T-lymphocyte subpopulations and analysis of their utilization. The cellular immunological states of brain tumor patients were examined by means of PHA and PPD skin tests, the blastogenic response of T-lymphocytes to PHA and the T-lymphocyte subpopulations. Our subjects consisted of 10 cases of glioma (8 astrocytoma, 2 ependymoma), 2 cases of meningioma, one of teratoma, one of hemangioblastoma and 4 of metastatic brain tumor. These were divided into 2 groups: the benign group, which included low grade astrocytoma, meningioma, teratoma and hamangioblstoma, and the malignant group which included malignant glioma and metastatic brain tumor. The T-lymphocytes were counted by monoclonal antibody assay using Ortho-mune T-lymphocyte monoclonal antibody (OK series). We then counted an analysis to determine metastatic brain tumor. The T-lymphocytes were counted by monoclonal antibody assay using Ortho-mune T-lymphocyte monoclonal antibody (OK series). We then conducted an analysis to determine whether or not the T-lymphocyte subpopulations could be of value in the prediction of the possible prognosis of patients. The results were as described below. Ratio of helper/inducer T-lymphocytes (OKT 4 positive cells: Th) to suppressor/cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (OKT 8 positive cells: Ts) were 1.78 +/- 0.18 in the benign group and 1.00 +/- 0.49 in the malignant group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)