Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
Evaluation of Biomarkers in Glioma by Immunohistochemistry on Paraffin-Embedded 3D Glioma Neurosphere Cultures
Published on: January 9, 2019
Biomarkers of immunotherapy in glioblastoma
William M Savage1, Mitchell D Yeary1, Anthony J Tang1
1Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA.
Abstract:
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain cancer, comprising half of all malignant brain tumors. Patients with GBM have a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 14-15 months. Current therapies for GBM, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical resection, remain inadequate. Novel therapies are required to extend patient survival. Although immunotherapy has shown promise in other cancers, including melanoma and non-small lung cancer, its efficacy in GBM has been limited to subsets of patients. Identifying biomarkers of immunotherapy response in GBM could help stratify patients, identify new therapeutic targets, and develop more effective treatments. This article reviews existing and emerging biomarkers of clinical response to immunotherapy in GBM. The scope of this review includes immune checkpoint inhibitor and antitumoral vaccination approaches, summarizing the variety of molecular, cellular, and computational methodologies that have been explored in the setting of anti-GBM immunotherapies.
Insights
Identifying biomarkers for glioblastoma (GBM) immunotherapy response is crucial. This review explores molecular, cellular, and computational methods to improve treatment efficacy for this aggressive brain cancer.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary brain tumor.
- Current GBM treatments offer limited survival benefits, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Immunotherapy shows promise but has variable efficacy in GBM, highlighting the need for predictive biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing and emerging biomarkers for predicting clinical response to immunotherapy in GBM.
- To explore diverse methodologies for identifying these biomarkers.
- To inform the development of more effective GBM immunotherapies.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of immunotherapy biomarkers in GBM.
- Analysis of molecular, cellular, and computational approaches.
- Focus on immune checkpoint inhibitors and therapeutic vaccination strategies.
Main Results:
- Biomarkers are essential for stratifying GBM patients for immunotherapy.
- Various biomarkers are under investigation, spanning molecular signatures and immune cell profiles.
- Computational methods offer novel avenues for biomarker identification.
Conclusions:
- Effective immunotherapy for GBM requires robust biomarkers to guide patient selection and treatment.
- Further research into diverse biomarker types and advanced methodologies is critical.
- Biomarker-driven approaches hold the potential to significantly improve GBM patient outcomes.
