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Of the more than 120 types of brain tumors that have been identified, glioblastoma is the most aggressive and infiltrative. This particular cancer starts in the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, and is aggressive, quickly invading and spreading into healthy brain tissue. Recent improvements in technology and discoveries in the field of immunology suggest that immunotherapy may have a significant role in the fight against glioblastomas.
Cancer immunotherapy consists of the use of the immune system to reject cancers. The main premise is to harness the patient’s immune system to attack the malignant tumor cells. Immunotherapy strategies include antitumor antibodies, cancer vaccines, transfer of activated immune cells, and administration of antibodies or recombinant proteins that either stimulate immune cells or block signaling pathways that inhibit the immune system.
In a recent study, researchers from Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, further investigated the mechanisms behind effective anti-tumor immune response. The group performed injections of picornaviruses in recipient mice with established glioblastomas. Once inside the host cells, the viruses expressed tumor-specific antigens that triggered a strong cell response.
Vaccination with these picornaviruses resulted in effectively reducing tumor burden. From T2 weighted MRI and T1 gadolinium-enhanced MRI scans, tumor volumes were measured using Analyze software through 3D rendering of the tumoral mass. The infection generated a robust recruitment of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells – a type of white blood cell that is responsible for killing cancer cells, virus-infected cells, or damaged cells – infiltrating both the central nervous system and the periphery. Also, the delay in tumor outgrowth was accompanied by considerable prolonged survival in the injected mice compared to controls.
The robustness of the response generated by vaccination with picornavirus vectors sheds further light on the strength of cancer immunotherapy. Findings from this study provide valuable information that may be used in the optimization of treatments for the cure of glioblastomas.
Related: Distinguishing between Cell Populations in Glioblastoma Multiforme
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