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Updated: May 31, 2026
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Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections
Published on: July 31, 2017
Immune cell imaging in the glioma microenvironment.
Andrew Awuah Wireko1, Adam Ben-Jaafar2, Joecelyn Kirani Tan3
1Independent Researcher, Berlin, Germany.
Brain Research
|May 28, 2026
Summary
Glioblastoma immune microenvironment imaging advances diagnosis and therapy. Non-invasive techniques map tumour-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMMs) and T cells, guiding personalized glioblastoma treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor with poor outcomes.
- The tumor microenvironment, including immune cells like TAMMs, significantly impacts glioblastoma progression and treatment resistance.
- Current therapies face challenges due to the complex immune landscape.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in non-invasive imaging for visualizing and characterizing the glioblastoma immune microenvironment.
- To highlight imaging agents and techniques for mapping immune cell distribution and function.
- To discuss the potential of immune cell imaging in guiding personalized glioblastoma therapies.
Main Methods:
- Review of non-invasive imaging technologies: MRI, PET, and optical methods.
- Analysis of imaging agents targeting immune cell markers (e.g., TSPO, CD163, CD68, CD206, CX3CR1).
- Integration of imaging with radiomics and spatial transcriptomics.
Main Results:
- Imaging agents enable mapping of TAMM distribution and functional states in gliomas.
- Emerging PET tracers monitor T-cell dynamics, offering insights into immunotherapy response.
- Multimodal imaging approaches show promise for overcoming challenges like BBB permeability and tracer specificity.
Conclusions:
- Immune cell imaging is crucial for understanding glioblastoma biology and resistance mechanisms.
- Advanced imaging techniques can enhance diagnosis, guide immunotherapy selection, and monitor treatment response.
- Future directions include theranostics and longitudinal monitoring for improved patient outcomes.
