Immune cell infiltration of intrinsic and metastatic intracranial tumours.
BACKGROUND
Immune escape is one prerequisite for the formation of neoplasms that is reflected by the pattern of immune cell infiltration. Abundant monocytic infiltration without apparent phagocytic activity is well known in human gliomas, while other types of human intracranial tumours have not yet been investigated.


METHODS
We analysed LCA-positive lymphocytes and CD68-positive macrophages/microglia by immunohistochemistry in 67 intracranial neoplasms: 18 glioblastomas (GBM), 14 primitive neuroectodermal tumours and medulloblastomas (PNET), metastases of 9 adenocarcinomas and of 8 malignant melanomas, and 18 benign meningiomas.


RESULTS
Levels of monocytic infiltration in GBM and adenocarcinomas were higher than in PNET and meningiomas. Lymphocytes were rare in all tested tumours. No differences were found between all malignant neoplasms and benign meningiomas and between primary intracranial and metastatic tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
Malignancy or primary intracranial origin seem not to be major determinants of immune cell infiltration. Different patterns of cytokine production may explain the differences in single tumour entities.
Strik
Herwig M
HM
Institute of Brain Research, Medical School, University of Tübingen, Germany. herwig.strik@med.uni-goettingen.de
Stoll
Manuel
M
Meyermann
Richard
R
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000276:immunology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008579:Meningioma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018242:Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule