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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Glioma-infiltrating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Published on: November 28, 2015
Microvilli expressed on glioma cells keep cytotoxic cells at a distance
Fatma Zaguia1, Raphael Schneider
1Université de Montréal, CR-CHUM-Notre-Dame; McGill University, Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Abstract:
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most frequent primary brain tumor in adults, carries a particularly poor prognosis despite aggressive treatment approaches. A possible explanation for treatment failure resides in the capacity of glioma cells to infiltrate the brain parenchyma and therefore escape surgical removal and radiation exposure. One of the most promising novel strategies in glioma therapy is to use the patient's immune system to attack the tumor. Cytotoxic effector cells are crucial components of the immune system to fight cancers; genetically modified cytotoxic T cells that recognize tumor antigens can destroy cancer cells. Glioma cells, on the other hand, use several strategies to escape this immunological attack. In a recent study, Hoa and colleagues reported that cell surface expression of microvilli protects gliomas from being killed by cytotoxic effector cells.
Insights
Glioblastoma cells evade immune attack by growing microvilli on their surface. This finding suggests targeting microvilli could improve immunotherapy for brain tumors.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis.
- Current treatments like surgery and radiation are often ineffective due to tumor infiltration.
- Immunotherapy using cytotoxic effector cells shows promise but faces challenges.
Discussion:
- Glioma cells employ evasion strategies against immune surveillance.
- Cell surface microvilli were identified as a mechanism protecting gliomas from cytotoxic effector cells.
- This study reveals a novel pathway for immune evasion in glioblastoma.
Key Insights:
- Microvilli on glioblastoma cells shield them from immune-mediated destruction.
- Targeting microvilli may enhance the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapies.
- Understanding these evasion tactics is critical for developing effective brain tumor treatments.
Outlook:
- Further research into microvilli as therapeutic targets for GBM.
- Development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies to overcome glioblastoma immune evasion.
- Potential for combination therapies involving microvilli disruption and immunotherapy.
