Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Intracranial Cannula Implantation for Serial Locoregional Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Infusions in Mice
Published on: February 24, 2023
Recent Locoregional CAR T-Cell Trials for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma: Implications for Neuro-Oncology
Manina Maja Etter1,2, Kevin Akeret3,4, Raphael Guzman5
1Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. ettermanina@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Glioblastoma remains one of the most aggressive primary brain tumors in adults, with a survival rarely exceeding 15 months despite multimodal therapy. Novel immunotherapeutic strategies, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, have emerged as promising approaches to overcome the limitations of conventional treatments. This review summarizes recent early-phase clinical trials investigating locoregional chimeric antigen receptor T-cell delivery in recurrent glioblastoma and highlights key considerations for multidisciplinary neuro-oncology teams involved in this evolving therapeutic paradigm. Phase I studies of intratumoral, intracavitary, intraventricular, or combined delivery routes have demonstrated technical feasibility and safety, with most adverse events being manageable. Dual-route delivery may enhance chimeric antigen receptor T-cell distribution and produce early radiographic and clinical responses in selected patients. However, therapeutic durability remains limited by tumor heterogeneity, antigen loss, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Multidisciplinary care teams play a critical role in catheter and reservoir placement, infusion planning, and management of neuroinflammatory toxicities. Although current findings are preliminary, ongoing optimization of target selection, dosing strategies, and combination therapies may expand treatment options for recurrent glioblastoma and further integrate immunotherapy into contemporary neuro-oncology care.
Insights
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy shows promise for recurrent glioblastoma. Early trials indicate safety and feasibility of locoregional delivery, but durability challenges remain.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Immunotherapy
- Cellular Therapy
Background:
- Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis.
- Conventional treatments have limited efficacy.
- Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy offers a novel immunotherapeutic approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review early-phase clinical trials of locoregional CAR T-cell delivery for recurrent glioblastoma.
- To highlight key considerations for multidisciplinary neuro-oncology teams.
- To discuss challenges and future directions in CAR T-cell therapy for glioblastoma.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent Phase I clinical trials.
- Analysis of locoregional delivery routes (intratumoral, intracavitary, intraventricular, dual-route).
- Assessment of safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy.
Main Results:
- Locoregional CAR T-cell delivery is technically feasible and safe, with manageable adverse events.
- Dual-route delivery may improve CAR T-cell distribution and yield early responses.
- Therapeutic durability is limited by tumor heterogeneity, antigen loss, and immunosuppression.
Conclusions:
- Multidisciplinary teams are crucial for managing CAR T-cell therapy and its toxicities.
- Ongoing research focuses on optimizing targets, dosing, and combination therapies.
- CAR T-cell therapy holds potential for expanding treatment options in recurrent glioblastoma.
