Basel researchers develop immunotherapy against brain tumor
Published: Tuesday, Nov 12th 2024, 09:10
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Researchers at the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel have developed an immunotherapy against brain tumors. This not only attacks the tumor, but also targets its microenvironment.
Glioblastomas are the most common and most malignant form of brain tumors in adults. They are stubborn and usually come back after surgery and therapy. However, the time gained after an operation can be used to reprogram the patient's own T cells in the laboratory into CAR-T cells so that they can recognize structures on the cancer cells with the help of a receptor. This was announced by the University of Basel on Tuesday. These are injected into the newly growing tumor, where they attack all cancer cells that carry the corresponding recognition structure.
The CAR-T cells developed by the researchers are also aimed at changing the microenvironment, according to the university. Solid tumors have such a microenvironment, which fends off immune attacks. The reprogrammed cells contain the blueprint for a molecule that can be used to block the signals with which the tumor engages immune cells in its environment for its own purposes.
Microenvironment targets tumor
With these signals, the tumor turns the immune cells into traitors to their own body. Instead of attacking the cancer, they prevent the immune system from attacking it. However, if the introduced molecule suppresses the tumor signals, the immune cells support the CAR-T cells in attacking the brain tumor.
In trials with mice, the new therapy proved to be very successful, the report continued. The CAR-T cells caused all cancer cells to disappear. The next step is to conduct an initial clinical trial with patients.
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