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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Published on: November 28, 2015
Mahaley Clinical Research Award: chemosensitization of glioma through dendritic cell vaccination
John S Yu1, Anne Luptrawan, Keith L Black
1Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Abstract:
A major reason chemotherapy fails in cancer treatment is drug resistance. New targets against chemotherapy resistance have been developed with the identification of molecular pathways in drug resistance. These targets are proteins that are highly expressed in human gliomas and are known to be tumor antigens. The immune system produces specialized white blood cells called dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are the most potent antigen-presenting cell of the immune system. DCs have demonstrated the ability to stimulate antibodies and cell-mediated immune responses against tumor antigens. Immunotherapy has emerged as a novel treatment strategy for gliomas with tumor antigens serving as the driving force. Clinical immunotherapy trials for glioma patients using vaccinations made of tumor antigens combined with dendritic cells ex vivo have shown promising results. DC vaccinations may increase sensitivity to chemotherapy, as demonstrated by a significant increase in 2-year survival rates in patients with malignant gliomas who received chemotherapy after immunotherapy (51). The use of DC vaccinations to increase sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy can be rationalized as a novel strategy. Hence, this review will focus on the recent advances in the identification of tumor-associated antigens in gliomas, as well as their biological function related to drug resistance. The current research status and the future direction of DC vaccines to treat glioma in animal models and clinical trials will also be discussed.
Insights
Dendritic cell (DC) vaccines targeting tumor antigens show promise in overcoming chemotherapy resistance in gliomas. Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy may improve survival rates for malignant glioma patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Chemotherapy resistance is a primary challenge in treating gliomas.
- Tumor antigens, highly expressed in gliomas, are key targets for immunotherapy.
- Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells that can stimulate anti-tumor immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in identifying glioma tumor-associated antigens.
- To discuss the biological role of these antigens in drug resistance.
- To explore the potential of dendritic cell (DC) vaccines in glioma treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on glioma tumor antigens and DC immunotherapy.
- Analysis of preclinical data from animal models.
- Examination of clinical trial outcomes for DC-based glioma vaccines.
Main Results:
- DC vaccinations combined with chemotherapy have shown promising results in clinical trials.
- A significant increase in 2-year survival rates was observed in patients receiving immunotherapy before chemotherapy.
- DC vaccines may enhance tumor cell sensitivity to chemotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Dendritic cell (DC) vaccination is a potential novel strategy to overcome chemotherapy resistance in gliomas.
- Further research into tumor antigens and DC vaccine development is warranted.
- DC vaccines hold promise for improving outcomes in glioma patients, particularly when combined with standard chemotherapy.
