Scientists decode why immunotherapy fails for aggressive Glioblastoma Brain Cancer

New research published in the popular journal named Nature Medicine recently examined the glioblastoma tumors to understand the reason behind diminished response of brain cancer to immunotherapy. Scientists are now a step closer to understand how other forms of cancer respond pretty well to the treatment but this one doesn’t.

Immunotherapy is a form of treatment which aims towards boosting our immune system to fight cancer-causing cells. This therapy has been effective time and again when it comes to treatment of aggressive versions of cancer like the triple-negative form of breast cancer. But, when it comes to glioblastoma, this process merely helps 1 in 10 patients. This version of the brain cancer comes with the median outlook lasting just 15 to 18 months maximum.

A team comprised of scientists with Raul Rabadan as the lead went ahead and studies the mystery behind immunotherapy failing against glioblastoma. Rabadan, a Ph.D. holder, and professor for biomedical informatics and systems biology for Columbia University Valegos College of Physicians and Surgeons at the NYC studied this issue and located that PD-1 protein had a substantial role when it comes to cancer.

As explained by the researchers, cancer tends to block out the immune system’s activity by affecting the protein named PD-1. This protein is present in the immune cells known as T-cells. Here, it helps to make sure that our immune system doesn’t actually overdo any response when it comes to reacting to the threats. When this PD-1 binds with another protein named PD-L1, it can stop the T-cells from taking over the healthy cells which include the tumor cells as well.

Some of the immunotherapy drugs function by blocking the PD-1 protein that releases all the brakes placed by the protein over our immune system. This allows the T-cells to run loose while killing off the cancer cells.

PD-1 inhibitors stand successful in a wide variety of cancer. This is why Prof. Rabadan with his colleagues wondered if these drugs could have similar effects over glioblastoma. The team studied these tumors in a microenvironment. The team studied the cells responsible for maintaining the tumor’s growth in at least 66 out of 100 people suffering from glioblastoma.

This research examined a tumor in the brain both before & after their treatment with PD-1 inhibitors named pembrolizumab or nivolumab. The study helped decode the fact that patients with MAPK mutations for glioblastoma responded way better to the immunotherapy treatment.