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60th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)
Joint Meeting with the Benelux countries and Bulgaria

German Society of Neurosurgery (DGNC)

24 - 27 May 2009, Münster

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Enhancement of antineoplastic immune response in malignant glioma by administration of inactivated staphylococci

Meeting Abstract

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  • M. Löhr - Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Neurochirurgie, Zentrum für Neurochirurgie, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln
  • E. Spüntrup - Abteilung für Neuroradiologie, Institut und Poliklinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln
  • M. Molcanyi - Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Neurochirurgie, Zentrum für Neurochirurgie, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln
  • J. Poggenborg - Abteilung für Neuroradiologie, Institut und Poliklinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln
  • M. Runge - Klinik für Stereotaxie und Funktionelle Neurochirurgie, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln
  • G. Röhn - Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Neurochirurgie, Zentrum für Neurochirurgie, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln
  • J. Hampl - Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemeine Neurochirurgie, Zentrum für Neurochirurgie, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie. 60. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurochirurgie (DGNC), Joint Meeting mit den Benelux-Ländern und Bulgarien. Münster, 24.-27.05.2009. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2009. DocMI.06-08

doi: 10.3205/09dgnc209, urn:nbn:de:0183-09dgnc2097

Published: May 20, 2009

© 2009 Löhr et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

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Objective: Several anecdotal reports deal with the complete regression of malignant brain tumors following postoperative infectious complications that in turn are potentially life-threatening. We wondered whether the antineoplastic properties of bacteria could be modified into a safe and effective therapy against malignant glioma.

Methods: 22 male Wistar rats were used for the implantation of 105 9L gliosarcoma cells (n=7), 105 inactivated staphylococci (IS) without tumor cells (n=4), or in the treatment groups 105 9L cells mixed with 105 and 104 IS, respectively (n=11). Tumor growth was monitored by serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies ± gadolineum-DTPA and quantified by computer-assisted volumetry of the lesions. During the observation period of 90 days, the animals were monitored daily for signs of discomfort. In case of infirmity by the tumor burden, the brains were removed after perfusion-fiaxtion and immunostained for CD45, CD68, CD4 and CD8a. Survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier-estimates. Cell culture experiments were performed to study a potential in vitro antitumorigenic effect of IS.

Results: Whereas IS exhibited no significant antineoplastic effect on 9L cell growth in vitro, there was a significant increase in average survival time in the treatment groups by 77%. Lesion volumes were smaller in the animals treated, and contrast enhancement was reduced in comparison to pure 9L gliosarcoma without adminsitration of IS. Histopathological specimen showed a distinct infiltration and dissociation of the tumors by abundant immunopcompetent cells in the animals treated. Interestingly, one of these animasl showed a considerable tumor growth in serial MRI and subsequently its spontaneous and complete regression. The exclusive application of the IS without tumor cells was well tolerated with no signs of discomfort or intracranial infection in any animal during the observation period.

Conclusions: IS administered intracerebrally harbor a substantial therapeutic potential in experimental glioma. They probably act by an unspecific stimulation of the local antineoplastic immune responses, thus overcoming the immunosuppressive properties of the tumor.