Immunobiologic aspects of the brain and human gliomas. A review

Several facts are now clearly established about immunity and human gliomas. The cause of at least some gliomas can be recognized. Glioma patients at the time of diagnosis can be stratified in terms of immune responsiveness, from those who are severely depressed to those who are relatively intact. Glioma cells both within and among gliomas have wide qualitative and quantitative ranges of expression of normal adult and fetal brain antigens. The 'immune privilege' of the brain compared to other organ sites is best described in quantitative terms relative to differences in rates of antigenic recognition and the afferent limb of the immune response than in an absolute sense.

Duke Scholars

Author Darell Doty Bigner Neurosurgery