HLA antigens on glioma cells from short term cultures.

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.