title: Perspectives on the immunologic microenvironment of astrocytomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The microenvironment of astrocytomas includes infiltrative inflammatory cells that are dynamic in nature, possibly reflecting tumor biology. We evaluated the inflammatory cell infiltrate in astrocytic tumors aiming for a better understanding of their immunobiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical expression of CD68, CD3, and CD20 was investigated in 21 glioblastomas, 21 anaplastic astrocytomas, 13 diffuse astrocytomas, and 18 pilocytic astrocytomas. The inflammatory infiltrate was classified based on microanatomic location as perivascular and intratumoral, and subsequently graded semiquantitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perivascularly, CD68-positive infiltrate was noted in 71.4% of glioblastomas compared with 14.3% of anaplastic astrocytomas (P = 0.0001), 7.7% of diffuse astrocytomas (P = 0.0001), and 33.3% of pilocytic astrocytomas (P = 0.017). Intratumorally, 85.7% of glioblastomas exhibited CD68-positive infiltrate compared with 42.9% of anaplastic astrocytomas (P = 0.004), 38.5% of diffuse astrocytomas (P = 0.008), and 33.3% of pilocytic astrocytomas (P = 0.001). Among diffusely infiltrating astrocytomas, intratumoral CD3-positive infiltrate was only associated with glioblastoma. A CD20-positive infiltrate was only detected in the perivascular space of a single case of diffuse astrocytoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate a distinct immune profile in the glioblastoma microenvironment primarily related to the prevalence of macrophages. Thus, novel glioblastoma therapies should address this key CD68-positive population and its possible role in generating an antitumor immune response.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Iman H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Hewedi
authors.forename: Nehal A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.forename: Lobna S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Shash
authors.forename: Tarek H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Elserry
keywords: CD3; CD68; astrocytoma; glioblastoma; inflammatory cell infiltrate
references.citation: Clin Cancer Res. 2011 Jul 1;17(13):4296-308
references.pmid: 21478334
references.citation: Exp Cell Res. 2010 May 15;316(9):1553-66
references.pmid: 20184883
references.citation: Anticancer Res. 2008 Mar-Apr;28(2B):1143-50
references.pmid: 18505050
references.citation: Glia. 2002 Nov;40(2):252-9
references.pmid: 12379912
references.citation: Neuro Oncol. 2006 Jul;8(3):261-79
references.pmid: 16775224
references.citation: J Neurosci Res. 2005 Aug 1;81(3):447-55
references.pmid: 15959903
references.citation: J Neurooncol. 2009 Jul;93(3):289-301
references.pmid: 19156359
references.citation: Cancer Res. 2008 Sep 15;68(18):7342-51
references.pmid: 18794121
references.citation: J Neuroimmunol. 2011 Mar;232(1-2):75-82
references.pmid: 21056915
references.citation: Oncogene. 2008 Feb 7;27(7):918-30
references.pmid: 17684491
references.citation: J Neurooncol. 2008 May;88(1):65-76
references.pmid: 18259692
references.citation: F1000 Med Rep. 2012;4:18
references.pmid: 22991580
references.citation: J Neurooncol. 2010 Apr;97(2):159-69
references.pmid: 19802719
references.citation: Cancer Immun. 2007 Aug 13;7:12
references.pmid: 17691714
references.citation: J Transl Med. 2007 Dec 19;5:68
references.pmid: 18093336
references.citation: Br J Cancer. 2006 Aug 7;95(3):272-81
references.pmid: 16832418
references.citation: J Neurosurg. 2011 Sep;115(3):505-11
references.pmid: 21663411
references.citation: J Immunol. 2009 Mar 1;182(5):3310-7
references.pmid: 19234230