• Advances and potential of immunotherapy against malignant Glioblastoma multiforme
  • Neda Zahmatkesh,1,*
    1. Msc of Molecular Genetic Department of Genetics, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran.


  • Introduction: Primary brain cancer that is most commonly aggressive is called glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Gliomas (tumors arising from glial cells) and non-gliomas are the two categories into which brain malignancies are classified. Astrocytomas, ependymomas, and oligodendrogliomas are the three sub-classes of gliomas that are further classified based on the kind of glial cell involved in the creation of the tumor. GBM is classified as a stage IV high-grade malignant astrocytoma. Though it is a rare tumor type with a global prevalence of fewer than 10 cases per 100,000 individuals, GBM has an extremely unfavorable prognosis. Although GBM can develop at any age, it is typically detected in older adults, with a median diagnostic age of 65. Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with GBM. The aim of this study was Advances and potential of immunotherapy against malignant Glioblastoma multiforme.
  • Methods: The present study is titled Advances and potential of immunotherapy against malignant Glioblastoma multiforme which was done by searching scientific databases such as Science Direct, Springer, Google Scholar and PubMed.
  • Results: Activated immune cells can be injected intravenously into the patient's body or implanted and inserted into the tumor cavity as part of cell-based immunotherapy, sometimes referred to as adaptive immunity. The first cells employed in glioblastoma patients' clinical trials and investigations were natural killer cells triggered by lymphocytes. These cells are taken from interleukin-2-cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cytotoxic T cells and cells with the ability to invade and assault targets systematically are produced as a result of this process; nevertheless, they do not exclusively target glioblastoma cells. This method's initial phase of clinical studies has mainly failed. The findings of a review of 36 individuals who received autologous activated natural killer cell lymphokine were published by Dillman et al. At one year, 75% of patients had an average survival of 20 months. Another strategy is to collect lymphocytes from peripheral blood and lymph nodes after peripheral injection of autologous tumor cells that have been rendered inactive by radiation and GM-CSF. These lymphocytes are then stimulated by autologous tumor cells, which can be used as an antigenic source in clinical trials. After being reactivated in vitro, these cells were reinjected into the patients.
  • Conclusion: GBM still has significant therapeutic obstacles in spite of advancements in techniques including brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. One area of research that is making headway is the targeted targeting of host immune system stimulation to kill brain tumor cells without damaging healthy surrounding tissue. Aggression and the fact that the tumor always develops are two features of GBM. According to recent research, immunotherapy techniques may be able to locate and eradicate GBM cell invasion in the brain. Special Remarks Furthermore, immunotherapy using tumor T cells holds significant promise for treating GBM as it can completely eradicate tumor recurrence. They can be applied in addition to existing therapies. Although several effective strategies in animal models have been clinically proven in human GBM, these studies have not yet reached the testing stage.
  • Keywords: Glioblastoma multiforme, Cytotoxic T cells, immunotherapy