Cell therapy for brain tumors: The first 60 years.

Area of Science:

• Neuro-oncology
• Immunology
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Primary brain tumors are highly lethal cancers with limited treatment options.
• Immunotherapy offers a promising avenue to overcome current treatment limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a historical review of cellular immunotherapies for brain tumors.
• To summarize clinical experience and key findings from published studies.

Main Methods:

• Review of early-phase clinical trials since the late 1960s.
• Analysis of various cellular immunotherapy approaches tested in brain tumor patients.

Main Results:

• Early studies using nonspecific leukocytes, PBMCs, and bone marrow cells showed safety and occasional durable responses.
• Subsequent approaches included LAK cells, TILs, ex vivo expanded T cells, NK cells, and CAR T cells.

Conclusions:

• Adoptive cell therapies have evolved significantly over six decades.
• Cellular immunotherapies demonstrate potential for brain tumor treatment, particularly in combination or upfront settings.