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Updated: Sep 11, 2025
Implementation of Minimally Invasive Brain Tumor Resection in Rodents for High Viability Tissue Collection
Published on: May 9, 2022
The Importance of Integrating Surgical Resection into Preclinical Glioblastoma Modeling
Josephine Volovetz1,2, Line V Buchwald3,4, Karina Straede5,6
1Rose Ella Burkhardt Brain Tumor & Neuro-Oncology Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
Abstract:
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a challenging tumor in terms of clinical management, with limited progress made since the standard of care was established in 2005. Maximal safe surgical resection, a cornerstone of the standard-of-care regimen, is a major determinant in patient outcome. However, this key clinical parameter is generally not accounted for in preclinical models, which are often used to provide a rationale for early-phase clinical trials. In this perspective, we cover the current types and status of preclinical GBM resection models and the insights they provide into the GBM disease process. In addition, we discuss how surgical resection alters the immune response, which can affect response to therapies, especially in the context of newly developing and contemporary immunotherapies. Given the complexity of GBM and the use of tumor resection in clinical management, we highlight the necessity and opportunity to integrate surgical resection into preclinical models to help inform and test the next generation of treatments.
Insights
Glioblastoma (GBM) treatment lags due to preclinical models ignoring surgical resection. Integrating resection into models is crucial for developing effective immunotherapies and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Immunotherapy
Background:
- Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a difficult-to-treat brain tumor with limited therapeutic advancements since 2005.
- Maximal safe surgical resection is a critical factor influencing patient outcomes in clinical GBM management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current preclinical glioblastoma resection models and their insights into disease processes.
- To discuss the impact of surgical resection on the immune microenvironment and its implications for immunotherapy.
- To emphasize the need for incorporating surgical resection into preclinical models for future treatment development.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing preclinical glioblastoma resection models.
- Analysis of how surgical resection influences the tumor immune microenvironment.
- Discussion of the role of preclinical models in informing clinical trial design.
Main Results:
- Current preclinical models often do not accurately reflect the clinical scenario of surgical resection.
- Surgical intervention significantly alters the immune response within the tumor microenvironment.
- This immune modulation by resection can impact the efficacy of emerging immunotherapies.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need to integrate surgical resection into preclinical glioblastoma models.
- Improved preclinical models that incorporate resection will better inform the development of novel GBM therapies.
- This approach is essential for advancing the next generation of glioblastoma treatments, particularly immunotherapies.
