Interactions between glioblastoma and myeloid cells

Standing as the most aggressive form of primary malignant tumor, Glioblastoma (GBM) tumors with marked heterogeneity represents one of the enormous challenges in glioma treatment. Myeloid cells, which includes neutrophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, microglia, and macrophages, play a pivotal role in the tumor microenvironment of GBM. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), T cells and natural killer (NK) cells exert anti-tumor functions, whereas myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) can promote tumor progression by suppressing these immune responses. Therefore, MDSCs play a critical role in shaping the effectiveness of immunotherapy. TME has constrained the ability of traditional GBM treatment approaches to significantly enhance prognostic outcomes for patients. This category encompasses conventional therapies like surgical resection and radiation therapy, along with cutting-edge methodologies such as immunotherapy. Through extensive investigations into the dynamic interactions between the GBM microenvironment and neoplastic cells, both targeted treatment strategies and innovative immunotherapeutic modalities have emerged, offering promising new directions for clinical intervention. This review focuses on the interactions between GBM and myeloid cells (MCs), providing novel insights into the oncogenesis and progression of GBM.