[Immunotherapy in brain tumors]

Ann Pathol. 2017 Feb;37(1):117-126. doi: 10.1016/j.annpat.2016.12.001. Epub 2017 Jan 19.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Diffuse gliomas represent the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors in adults and children alike. Glioblastoma is the most frequent and malignant form of diffuse glioma with a median overall survival of 15 months despite aggressive treatments. New therapeutic approaches are needed to prolong survival in this always fatal disease. The CNS has been considered for a long time as an immune privileged organ, in part because of the existence of the blood-brain barrier. Nonetheless, immunotherapy is a novel approach in the therapeutic management of glioma patients, which has shown promising results in several clinical trials, especially in the adult population. Vaccination, with or without dendritic cells, blockade of the immune checkpoints, and adoptive T cell transfer are the most studied modalities of diffuse glioma immunotherapy. The future most likely resides in combinatorial approaches, with administration of conventional treatments (surgery, radiochemotherapy) and immunotherapy following yet to determine schedules.

Keywords: Adoptive T cell transfer; Blocage des points de contrôle immunitaires; Brain tumor; Diffuse glioma; Glioblastoma; Glioblastome; Gliome diffus; Immune checkpoint blockade; Immunotherapy; Immunothérapie; Transfert adoptif de lymphocytes T; Tumeur cérébrale; Tumor vaccine; Vaccin tumoral.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cancer Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / immunology
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy
  • Glioblastoma / immunology
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Glioma / drug therapy
  • Glioma / immunology
  • Glioma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / immunology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasm Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Tumor Escape

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • epidermal growth factor receptor VIII
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase
  • IDH1 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors