Immunotherapy for primary brain tumors: No longer a matter of privilege

Peter E. Fecci, Amy B. Heimberger, John H. Sampson

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

90 Scopus citations

Abstract

Immunotherapy for cancer continues to gain both momentum and legitimacy as a rational mode of therapy and a vital treatment component in the emerging era of personalized medicine. Gliomas, and their most malignant form, glioblastoma, remain as a particularly devastating solid tumor for which standard treatment options proffer only modest efficacy and target specificity. Immunotherapy would seem a wellsuited choice to address such deficiencies given both the modest inherent immunogenicity of gliomas and the strong desire for treatment specificity within the confines of the toxicity-averse normal brain. This review highlights the caveats and challenges to immunotherapy for primary brain tumors, as well as reviewing modalities that are currently used or are undergoing active investigation. Tumor immunosuppressive countermeasures, peculiarities of central nervous system immune access, and opportunities for rational treatment design are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5620-5629
Number of pages10
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume20
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 15 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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