The immunobiology of malignant gliomas

In spite of continuing advances in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the last few decades have brought little improvement in the prognosis of malignant brain tumours. New immunotherapeutic strategies are being studied in numerous laboratories throughout the world in an effort to gather the further clinical and biological data needed in order to render these therapies effective and selective. The authors review recent advances in understanding of the immunobiology of brain tumours, in particular malignant gliomas. The biological basis of the interaction between nervous system cells and cancer cells is still an unresolved question and a constantly evolving area of research. Particular attention is paid to interleukin-2, one of the few effective cytokines used in the adjuvant treatment of some tumours. However, there is still a long way to go before these and other immunological approaches can be considered really applicable in the treatment of malignant gliomas.