Changes in the tumor microenvironment and outcome for TME-targeting therapy in glioblastoma: A pilot study

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 5;16(2):e0246646. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246646. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a hypervascular and aggressive primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system. Recent investigations showed that traditional therapies along with antiangiogenic therapies failed due to the development of post-therapy resistance and recurrence. Previous investigations showed that there were changes in the cellular and metabolic compositions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). It can be said that tumor cell-directed therapies are ineffective and rethinking is needed how to treat GBM. It is hypothesized that the composition of TME-associated cells will be different based on the therapy and therapeutic agents, and TME-targeting therapy will be better to decrease recurrence and improve survival. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the changes in the TME in respect of T-cell population, M1 and M2 macrophage polarization status, and MDSC population following different treatments in a syngeneic model of GBM. In addition to these parameters, tumor growth and survival were also studied following different treatments. The results showed that changes in the TME-associated cells were dependent on the therapeutic agents, and the TME-targeting therapy improved the survival of the GBM bearing animals. The current GBM therapies should be revisited to add agents to prevent the accumulation of bone marrow-derived cells in the TME or to prevent the effect of immune-suppressive myeloid cells in causing alternative neovascularization, the revival of glioma stem cells, and recurrence. Instead of concurrent therapy, a sequential strategy would be better to target TME-associated cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / immunology
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Nude
  • Myeloid Cells / drug effects
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid Cells / pathology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics
  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

  • Csf1r protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Georgia Cancer Center startup fund and intramural grant program at Augusta University to Ali S. Arbab (ASA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.