Frequent abnormalities of the immune system in gliomas and correlation with the WHO grading system of malignancy

A shift from Th1 to Th2, a CD3+ and CD19+ lymphocytopenia, a diminished fraction CD4/CD8 and a reduced amount of immunoglobulins and complement were observed in the patients with gliomas. A higher WHO grade of the tumor was associated with greater impairments of immunity. Since defects of both humoral and cellular immunity were equally observed and significant predictors of grade were assessed, a preoperative evaluation of the immune system of patients with gliomas is being proposed.