Monocyte/macrophage infiltrate in 41 oligodendrogliomas. Paraffin-wax study.

We have studied wax-embedded tissue from 41 (33 low and 8 high grade) oligodendrogliomas with KP 1, a new monoclonal anti-monocytes/macrophages (M/Ms) antibody. Away from areas of degeneration, M/Ms cells were detected in 63% of low grade and 87% of high grade tumours. The latter had, on average, at least more than twice as many infiltrating M/Ms. It is concluded that our findings may indicate the presence of a host M/Ms immune response and that KP 1 antibody is suitable for the study of such infiltrate, thus lessening (but not obviating) the need for frozen tissue for immunohistological studies.