SUMMARY Biopsied tumour cells from astrocytoma-bearing patients were grown in primary culture for 3-5 days. Both low and high grade tumours were represented in the study. The cultured cells could be shown to express the HLA-A and -B antigens using a multispecific allo-antiserum and a rabbit anti-f-2 microglobulin antibody. The tumour cells were negative for the HLA-DR determinants when tested with either rabbit anti-Ia-like antisera or specific anti-HLA-DR allo-antisera. They also failed to stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes in primary mixed lymphocyte-tumour cell cultures but stimulated lymphocytes primed to tumour cells in vitro. The tumour cells were also capable of stimulating autologous lymphocytes from the tumour-bearing patient in most of the combinations tested. Materials and methodsPatients Twenty-two patients with various grades of astrocytomas (I-IV) were used in this study. The grading system described in the Kernohan classification has been used throughout this paper.12 13 Tumour biopsies were obtained at the time of operative resection and peripheral blood samples were obtained during the first 3 days after operation. All of the patients were receiving steroid treatment (Dekadron) at various doses pre-operatively, but none after operation.

Biopsied tumor cells from astrocytoma-bearing patients were grown in primary culture for 3-5 days. Both low and high grade tumors were represented in the study. The cultured cells could be shown to express the HLA-A and -B antigens using a multispecific allo-antiserum and a rabbit anti-beta-2 microglobulin antibody. The tumor cells were negative for the HLA-DR determinants when tested with either a rabbit anti-Ia-like antisera or specific anti-HLA-DR allo-antisera. They also failed to stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes in primary mixed lymphocyte-tumor cell cultures but moderately stimulated autologous lymphocytes from the tumor-bearing patient in most of the combinations tested.