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Glioblastoma and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Glance at Available Treatment Options and Future Directions
Silvia Mara Baez Rodriguez1, Ligia Gabriela Tataranu1,2, Amira Kamel1
1Neurosurgical Department, Bagdasar-Arseni Clinical Emergency Hospital, 041915 Bucharest, Romania.
Abstract:
Glioblastoma is known to be one of the most aggressive and fatal human cancers, with a poor prognosis and resistance to standard treatments. In the last few years, many solid tumor treatments have been revolutionized with the help of immunotherapy. However, this type of treatment has failed to improve the results in glioblastoma patients. Effective immunotherapeutic strategies may be developed after understanding how glioblastoma achieves tumor-mediated immune suppression in both local and systemic landscapes. Biomarkers may help identify patients most likely to benefit from this type of treatment. In this review, we discuss the use of immunotherapy in glioblastoma, with an emphasis on immune checkpoint inhibitors and the factors that influence clinical response. A Pubmed data search was performed for all existing information regarding immune checkpoint inhibitors used for the treatment of glioblastoma. All data evaluating the ongoing clinical trials involving the use of ICIs either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs was compiled and analyzed.
Insights
Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has shown limited success in treating glioblastoma. Further research into glioblastoma
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive brain cancer with poor patient outcomes.
- Standard treatments often fail due to tumor resistance.
- Immunotherapy has revolutionized solid tumor treatment but shows limited efficacy in glioblastoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current use of immunotherapy in glioblastoma treatment.
- To emphasize the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and their impact on clinical response.
- To explore glioblastoma's mechanisms of immune suppression and identify potential biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed.
- Data on existing clinical trials of ICIs in glioblastoma were compiled and analyzed.
- Information on ICIs as monotherapy and in combination treatments was reviewed.
Main Results:
- Immunotherapy, particularly ICIs, has not yet significantly improved glioblastoma patient outcomes.
- Understanding glioblastoma's immune-suppressive strategies is crucial for developing effective treatments.
- Biomarkers are needed to predict patient response to immunotherapy.
Conclusions:
- Glioblastoma's resistance to immunotherapy necessitates a deeper understanding of its immune microenvironment.
- Further research into immune checkpoint inhibitors and combination therapies is warranted.
- Identifying predictive biomarkers will be key to successful glioblastoma immunotherapy.
