The mononuclear cell infiltrate compared with survival in high-grade astrocytomas

Frozen samples from 92 malignant astrocytomas were stained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against macrophages and lymphocytes. A follow-up to death was available on 68 cases which form the basis of this study. Large numbers of macrophages were found in all cases; T lymphocytes, mostly of the CD8 phenotype were also seen in moderate numbers in 70% of cases. CD4-positive cells were present in small numbers in 32% and B cells were seen in only 8% of cases. Analysis of the survival showed no demonstrable correlation between the numbers of macrophages or CD4 lymphocytes and survival. The survival curves for parencymal CD8 infiltration diverged after 9 months suggesting increased survival for those patients without such an infiltration but the difference failed to reach statistical significance (P=0.37). No correlation between lymphocytic cuffing and survival was seen after studying all paraffinembedded material. We conclude that there is no significant statistical correlation between survival and the various types of mononuclear cell infiltrating malignant astrocytomas.