Xi Chen
Yi Cui
Liqun Zou3*- 1Department of Radiotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- 2State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- 3Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
High-grade gliomas (HGG) pose significant challenges in modern tumour therapy due to the distinct biological properties and limitations of the blood-brain barrier. This review discusses recent advancements in HGG treatment, particularly in the context of immunotherapy and cellular therapy. Initially, treatment strategies focus on targeting tumour cells guided by the molecular characteristics of various gliomas, encompassing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy for enhanced precision. Additionally, technological enhancements are augmenting traditional treatment modalities. Furthermore, immunotherapy, emphasising comprehensive tumour management, has gained widespread attention. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines and CAR-T cells exhibit promising efficacy against recurrent HGG. Moreover, emerging therapies such as tumour treating fields (TTFields) offer additional treatment avenues for patients with HGG. The combination of diverse treatments holds promise for improving the prognosis of HGG, particularly in cases of recurrence.
1 Introduction
Gliomas originate from glial cells that differentiate from the neuroectoderm and constitute approximately 80% of primary brain malignancies in adults (1). The 2021 WHO classification integrates histological characteristics and molecular phenotypes to delineate the types and subtypes of central nervous system (CNS) tumours (2). Gliomas are categorised into five types: Adult-type diffuse gliomas, Paediatric-type diffuse low-grade gliomas, Paediatric-type diffuse high-grade gliomas (HGG), Circumscribed astrocytic gliomas and Ependymal tumours. Within these types, tumours are graded according to the CNS WHO Grades. Table 1 outlines the subtypes of different glioma types that may progress to HGG or have been identified as HGG, along with associated genetic or molecular changes essential for accurate diagnosis.
Table 1 Subtypes of different types of high-grade gliomas that may develop into high-grade gliomas and their diagnostic genetic or molecular changes.
The standard treatment for HGG entails maximal surgical resection, followed by standard fractionated radiotherapy and concurrent and/or adjuvant chemotherapy (1). This approach is considered the most efficacious for HGG and is frequently complemented by targeted therapy, immunotherapy and other comprehensive interventions (2). Glioblastoma (GBM), the most prevalent grade IV WHO glioma in adults, exhibits an exceedingly poor prognosis, with a median overall survival (OS) of 14.6 months under standard therapy and a 5-year survival rate of less than 10% (3, 4). This presents a significant challenge in modern treatment, given that relapse occurs in nearly all cases, with limited treatment options upon recurrence.
Despite a significant increase in the number of cancer treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the past decade, only three new treatments have gained approval for GBM since 2005: Temozolomide (TMZ), Bevacizumab (BVZ) and Tumour Treating Fields (TTFields) (3, 5, 6).
The unique biological complexity of gliomas has prompted researchers to explore novel research avenues that can be translated into clinical practice. This paper systematically reviews recent advancements in HGG treatment, especially glioblastoma, spanning from traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy to the forefronts of targeted, immune and TTFields therapies, drawing upon the latest literature as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 Various treatment methods for glioblastoma, including traditional treatments and actively explored new treatments.
2 Cytotoxic chemotherapy
Currently, the standard treatment for HGG entails the administration of oral or intravenous TMZ. Patients with GBM who exhibit greater O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation tend to be more responsive to TMZ treatment (7, 8). Evidence suggests that assessing MGMT methylation status can aid in risk stratification and in identifying patients who may benefit from intensive TMZ therapy for other types of HGG (4, 9). A recent large-scale study involving newly diagnosed grade III patients with glioma without 1p19q codeletion indicated that those with MGMT methylation exhibited a higher median OS compared to those without methylation. Furthermore, it is suggested that MGMT methylation correlated with improved OS in patients who received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or adjuvant radiotherapy, though it did not impact survival in patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy or received no adjuvant therapy (10).
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge to achieving effective systemic chemotherapy accumulation at the tumour site, resulting in suboptimal treatment efficacy for gliomas. However, convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of chemotherapy can bypass the BBB and directly administer agents into the tumour and surrounding parenchyma through continuous positive-pressure infusion. CED has demonstrated the ability to extensive distribution volumes and deliver a wide range of compounds. Studies in glioma models have shown that the CED of TMZ is safer and more effective than systemic administration. Nevertheless, challenges persist regarding drug distribution limitations and inadequate brain accumulation. To address these issues, researchers have explored modifications to CED technology, including the utilisation of nanoparticles containing an oxaliplatin prodrug and a cationic DNA intercalator. These nanoparticles have shown promise in inhibiting the growth of TMZ-resistant cells in patient-derived xenografts and impeding the progression of TMZ-resistant human GBM in mice, potentially circumventing TMZ resistance. Despite these encouraging results, further investigations are necessary to effectively translate CED technology for CNS tumour treatment into a clinically viable platform.
Liposomes have emerged as a potential strategy to enhance the efficacy of CED by facilitating drug delivery into the brain. One effective approach involves encapsulating TMZ within hydrophilic (PEGylated) liposomes to shield it from hydrolysis and increase drug accumulation in tumour cells. However, an in vitro study utilising a TMZ liposome-CED formulation failed to demonstrate clear advantages over conventional drug solutions (11). Conversely, a dual-targeting immuno-liposome encapsulating TMZ (Dual-LP-TMZ) exhibited effectiveness in delivering TMZ to glioblastoma stem cells across the BBB, indicating its potential as a therapeutic option for GBM (7). In summary, utilising liposomal or nanocarrier systems to deliver TMZ or other chemotherapy drugs represents a feasible approach, yet further research is necessary to optimise these delivery systems.
3 Tumour treating fields
In recent years, TTFields has emerged as a novel, noninvasive and nontoxic approach to anticancer treatment, challenging traditional modalities. This represents a significant therapeutic advancement in cancer treatment over the past decade.
Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanism of action of TTFields against cancer. One hypothesis suggests that intracellular elements, such as organelles and macromolecules, are polar and susceptible to external electric fields. Additionally, mitotic cells harbour highly polar and dynamic spindle microtubules (12). TTFields utilise alternating mid-frequency electrical frequencies (200 kHz) and low field strengths (1–3 V/cm) to disrupt the mitotic spindle, impede its normal formation and activate the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). This activation leads to the induction of mitotic catastrophe, autophagy and apoptosis in tumour cells (13).
In early 2007, Kirson et al. conducted a preliminary clinical trial to assess the impact of TTFields on 10 patients with relapsed GBM. The study revealed that TTFields more than doubled the time to disease progression and OS compared to the median reported in historical control patients (14). This initial clinical study affirmed the safety and efficacy of TTFields, prompting rapid development in subsequent years. Although the EF-11 phase III study did not demonstrate a significant improvement in the OS rate of relapsed GBM compared to chemotherapy, both treatments were found to be comparable. However, the results of toxicity and quality of life favoured TTFields, leading to FDA approval of TTFields monotherapy for recurrent GBM (15).
The EF-14 study (NCT00916409) enrolled 695 GBM-naive patients who had undergone surgery or biopsy, radiation and TMZ chemotherapy. This study compared TTFields plus maintenance TMZ chemotherapy to TMZ alone. Results indicated a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 6.7 months versus 4.0 months and a median OS of 20.9 months versus 16.0 months, with similar rates of systemic adverse events between the two groups (16). Subgroup analysis revealed that TTFields combined with TMZ improved PFS (6.5 months vs. 3.9 months) and OS (17.4 months vs. 13.7 months) in patients aged ≥65 years with a worse prognosis, compared to TMZ chemotherapy alone (17). Furthermore, in a Korean population analysis, TTFields combined with TMZ showed higher median OS and 1- and 2-year survival rates, comparable to those in the general population data from the EF-14 study (18). Overall, both the population and subgroup analyses demonstrated the efficacy and safety of TTFields in patients with newly diagnosed GBM, leading to FDA approval of TTFields therapy for adults with newly diagnosed GBM.
Regarding safety, skin irritation related to the array was the most common adverse event (AE) associated with TTFields, according to two phase 3 studies, namely EF-11 in relapsed and EF-14 in newly diagnosed GBM. Global post-marketing safety monitoring of TTFields in clinical use in patients with HGG revealed no new safety concerns, with mild-to-moderate and manageable skin reactions related to the array remaining the most common AEs, with an overall incidence not exceeding 38%. The incidence in children, adults and older patients was 37%, 34% and 36%, respectively. Other TTFields-related AEs included warmth under the panel, tingling inductance, or headache, with the incidence of each AE not exceeding 11%. The safety profile was consistent across subgroups, including older adults, indicating feasibility in multiple populations (19).
Despite its efficacy and safety, TTField therapy is often associated with low acceptance and compliance rates. Currently, the therapy involves delivering alternating electric fields to the brain tumour through skin transducer arrays, which can be challenging for patients due to several factors such as hair shaving, frequent array changes, device weight and spare batteries, array visibility, increased sweat rate in warm temperatures, device alarm tone, and orthopaedic issues. These factors may limit patient acceptance of TTFields therapy, highlighting the need to address these challenges and improve patient acceptance and compliance. For instance, a study conducted in Germany showed that only 36% of 30 newly diagnosed patients with GBM accepted TTFields therapy, emphasising the need to improve acceptance rates (20). Therefore, addressing these challenges is imperative to improve patient acceptance and compliance with TTFields therapy.
There is evidence suggesting that TTFields may also modulate immune pathways. T-cells have been observed to maintain viability and function under TTFields treatment, displaying increased IFN-γ secretion, cytotoxic degranulation and PD-1 expression. This suggests that combining TTFields with T-cell-based immunotherapy approaches may be therapeutically beneficial (21, 22). Furthermore, TTFields have been found not only to release and expose molecules associated with cellular damage but also to promote DCs to phagocytose cancer cells, induce DC maturation in vitro and recruit immune cells in vivo. Combining TTFields with anti-PD-1 therapy has demonstrated a significant reduction in tumour volume and an increase in tumour-infiltrating immune cells in orthotopic lung and colon cancer tumour models (23). TTFields-mediated cell death may trigger anti-tumour immunity and can be effectively combined with anti-PD-1 therapy, providing a dual advantage. The molecular mechanism through which TTFields regulate immunity has been gradually elucidated, with Bezu et al. suggesting that TTFields induce stress responses in the endoplasmic reticulum, evidenced by the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor α (eIF2α), a characteristic feature of immunogenic cell death (24). eIF2α phosphorylation is associated with the surface exposure of calreticulin in tumour cells, which elicits a favourable anticancer immune response (25, 26). Chen et al. have also investigated TTFields’ role in revitalising the immune response, demonstrating that TTFields promote the production of immunostimulatory pro-inflammatory cytokines and type 1 interferon cytokines in tumour cells via an inflammasome-dependent mechanism, thereby activating the immune system (27). Further examination of these mechanisms of TTFields’ action is warranted.
Preclinical models have indicated that TTFields can reversibly influence BBB permeability by delocalising tight junction proteins such as claudin-5 from the membrane to the cytoplasm (28). This effect facilitates enhanced central delivery of chemotherapy drugs and immune macromolecular drugs. Overall, the tolerable safety profile and prolonged OS associated with TTFields render it an appealing treatment option for patients with brain tumours. Combining TTFields with other therapies can offer significant clinical advantages while minimising additional toxicity. Nevertheless, there is still much to uncover about the mechanisms of TTFields in GBM therapy, necessitating further exploration and optimisation of combination therapies.
4 Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is a viable treatment option for select patients with brain tumours. Advanced radiation technologies, such as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volume modulated arc therapy (VMAT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT), are widely employed techniques. IMRT and VMAT offer enhanced target conformity and better preservation of key tissues, such as the hippocampus and brainstem, thereby potentially reducing late toxicity associated with radiation therapy (29). These advantages underscore the superiority of IMRT and VMAT over three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) across various brain tumour types. SRS and SRT, whether delivered in hypofractionated or conventional regimens, can effectively slow fractionation and have demonstrated improved survival rates after re-irradiation in recurrent patients with GBM in multiple studies (30, 31). The precise delineation of the target volume and organs at risk (OARs) is paramount in re-irradiation. Routine use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in conjunction with contrast-enhanced T1 and T2-weighted sequences, along with surrounding abnormal FLAIR signal lesions, is recommended for target volume delineation. Evidence suggests that irradiating areas inclusive of those with abnormal FLAIR distribution can improve local tumour control and reduce local tumour progression (32).
However, questions persist regarding the efficacy and potential toxicity of repeat radiotherapy. While primary radiotherapy is generally considered safe and effective, re-irradiation may entail the risk of significant neurotoxicity. A study involving 31 patients with HGG, 81% of whom had GBM, revealed limited efficacy of re-irradiation, with a median OS of 7.0 months and a median PFS of 2.8 months. Among patients achieving disease control, 43% experienced late toxicity in the form of radiation necrosis and irreversible white matter changes, which, albeit manageable, underscore the importance of careful consideration (33). Therefore, re-irradiation should be judiciously employed, preferably restricted to small-volume recurrences, especially in regions unexposed to radiation for at least six months post-completion of previous radiotherapy. Given the treatment plan’s complexity, re-irradiation should be subject to real-time review or phased therapy, whenever feasible.
The efficacy of combining re-irradiation with systemic therapy for recurrent HGG remains a matter of debate. Some studies have indicated that combining re-irradiation with bevacizumab as salvage therapy can lead to prolonged survival with minimal toxicity (34, 35). However, other studies have reported that this combination solely improves PFS without a corresponding increase in OS (36). Exploring the combination of re-irradiation with bevacizumab in patients with HGG having small, confined or IDH-mutated lesions may be worthwhile. Furthermore, concomitant and/or adjuvant TMZ therapy alongside radiation has shown improved OS and PFS, predominantly in MGMT-methylated tumours (37).
5 Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy, a treatment method aimed at precisely targeting cancer cells, exerts its effect by targeting specific genes and proteins within tumour cells.
5.1 Targeting growth factor receptors signalling
Advancements in understanding the molecular pathways associated with glioblastoma have facilitated the identification of tumour biomarkers, paving the way for the development of drugs targeting tumour cells and the tumour microenvironment. Particularly in the tyrosine kinase receptor pathway, several targets have been identified, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, MET, Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), BRAF mutation, Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinases (NTRK) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), among other. These targets have been elaborated upon in several reviews (38).
5.2 Targeting tumour angiogenesis
Gliomas are characterised by a dense network of blood vessels and high expression levels of VEGF, which promotes the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). In the United States, two independent studies resulted in the FDA approval of bevacizumab for the treatment of relapsed GBM in 2009 (5, 39). Bevacizumab operates by binding to and inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). As additional clinical trials are conducted and results are updated, several studies have provided compelling evidence regarding both the benefits and limitations of bevacizumab’s antiangiogenic therapy in patients with HGG.
An analysis of 11 studies conducted between 2014 and 2017, involving patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed HGG treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, revealed that bevacizumab antivascular therapy improved PFS but not OS (40). Similarly, a review of 52 studies related to GBM conducted between 2000 and 2016 supported the efficacy of bevacizumab, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy, in extending PFS and OS in relapsed cases, but not in newly diagnosed cases (41). Thus, the use of antiangiogenic therapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM is still yet fully supported by evidence.
Furthermore, the superiority of antiangiogenic therapy over chemotherapy in recurrent GBM is still under investigation, considering potential AEs, such as hypertension, proteinuria, slow wound healing and thromboembolic events, which must be carefully weighed against the patient’s quality of life. In the reviewed studies, an average of one AE occurred per patient, with 74% of them classified as grade 3 or higher toxicity (41).
A novel antivascular targeting drug, apatinib, has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for HGG. Apatinib functions by inhibiting the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in the intracellular domain of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), thereby inhibiting the downstream biological effects of VEGF (42). It can penetrate the BBB, suppress glioma cell growth and metastasis, induce ferroptosis by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor erythrocyte-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/VEGFR2 pathway and result in the loss of tumour cell viability (43).
In vitro studies have demonstrated that apatinib can enhance the anti-tumour activity of TMZ (44), while in vivo experiments revealed that the combination of apatinib and TMZ can improve disease control efficacy in patients with recurrent HGG, particularly those with poor Karnofsky performance (45). Nevertheless, further investigations are required to validate these findings.
5.3 Targeting mutation
Reports suggest that approximately 91% of GBMs expressing wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) have a median OS of 1.2 years, while 9% of patients with IDH mutations have a median OS of 3.6 years (46). IDH1/2 are metabolic enzymes involved in the conversion of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (47). Somatic mutations, such as R132H in IDH1 and R140Q or R172H in IDH2, activate a novel pathway that converts α-KG to D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2-HG), a competitive antagonist of α-KG. This inhibits the activity of α-KG-dependent dioxygenases, including enzymes involved in histone and DNA demethylation, contributing to glioma progression (48, 49).
Mutant IDH1/2 exhibits distinct enzymatic activity compared to wild-type IDH1/2, and specific inhibitors targeting the mutant enzyme should not interfere with wild-type enzyme activity. D-2-HG, the product of mutant IDH1, has no physiological function, and inhibiting its synthesis should be safe. These distinguishing features make mutant IDH1/2 an attractive target for IDH-mutant tumour therapy, particularly the development of small molecule inhibitors of mutant IDH enzymes. Table 2 summarizes some novel inhibitors targeting IDH1 mutation.
Table 2 Clinical studies of IDH inhibitors for HGG in recent years.
One such inhibitor is the IDH1 ubiquitous protein inhibitor, BAY 1436032, which possesses distinct R132 codon mutations that significantly decrease 2-HG levels in cells harbouring the corresponding IDH1 mutations but have no effect on cells lacking IDH mutations. BAY 1436032 demonstrated no toxicity in vitro or in vivo and significantly prolonged the survival of mice implanted with IDH1-R132H-mutated human astrocytoma (53). Another inhibitor is MRK-A, a brain-penetrating IDH1 mutant-specific inhibitor with the potential to impair 2-HG synthesis. MRK-A offers significant survival benefits in vivo, despite having minimal effect on IDH1-mutant glioma cell proliferation in vitro (54).
A recent study utilising proteomics classified wild-type IDH GBM into two distinct proteome subtypes with stable characteristics. Cohort 1 was the only group exhibiting EGFRvIII and PIK3CA mutations, while other GBM-associated mutations such as TP53, NF1, PTEN and RB1 were more evenly distributed between the two subtypes, including non-EGFRvIII mutations (55). Thus, these findings could aid in determining GBM prognosis and developing more targeted treatment approaches.
6 Immunotherapy
While the brain was traditionally considered immune-privileged, recent research suggests that the immune system can interact with CNS cells due to disruptions in the BBB and the presence of lymphatic outflow channels during inflammation or malignancy (56–58). Various factors such as traumatic brain injury, autoimmunity, metabolic toxicity or misfolded protein accumulation can induce inflammation in the CNS, facilitating the entry of peripheral immune cells across the BBB (59). The discovery of functional lymphatic vessels lining the dural sinuses in rodents in 2015, wherein they resemble traditional lymphatic pathways and run parallel to the dual venous sinuses (60), provides a convention. conventional route for immune cells to traffic across the CNS, reshaping our understanding of the immune environment of brain tumours.
Upon the release and detection of endogenous danger molecules, peripheral immune cells swiftly infiltrate the CNS by crossing the BBB, triggering robust inflammatory responses. This phenomenon is speculated to be vital for effective immunotherapy targeting brain tumours (61). Recent studies have reinforced this hypothesis, revealing mechanisms such as tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) anergy, recruitment of immunosuppressive regulatory T-cells (Tregs) and activation of immunological checkpoints by GBM (62, 63).
6.1 Immune checkpoint inhibitors
Since the FDA approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA4 and PD-1 for melanoma treatment, ICIs have revolutionised tumour therapy (64). Concurrently, PD-1 and PD-L1 blockade therapy has rapidly gained traction for treating various solid tumours, including lung cancer, breast cancer and kidney cancer, among others (65). However, clinical evidence supporting PD-1 blockade therapy in glioma remains insufficient. Hence, the application of immunotherapy in HGG has sparked significant interest, with PD-1/PD-L1-based ICIs emerging as a prominent area of research.
6.1.1 PD-1/PD-L1
6.1.1.1 Expression of PD-L1 in glioma
Numerous studies have explored the relationship between PD-L1 expression levels and prognosis in patients with glioma. While some studies suggest no association between PD-L1 expression and glioma prognosis (66, 67), the majority of research (68–70) confirms a correlation between high PD-L1 expression and poor prognosis.
A study incorporating data from 1052 patients from the China Gliomas Genome Atlas (CGGA) and 976 patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed that patients with concomitant gliomas and high PD-L1 mRNA expression exhibited significantly shorter OS (68). Monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 have been investigated in multiple relapsed GBM.
Another study highlighted the concentration of the PDCD1 gene, which encodes PD-1, in IDH-wild-type gliomas. Genes associated with PDCD1 are implicated in the inflammatory immune response and T-cell-mediated immune response in glioma (71). The expression of PD-L1 in gliomas has been well established.
Furthermore, Berghoff et al. reported PD-L1 expression in 88% of initial diagnoses and 72.2% in recurrent GBM specimens (72). Nduom et al. found that 38% of 94 patients with GBM had at least 5% or more tumour cells positive for PD-L1 expression (73). Similarly, Ding et al. identified a strong correlation between tumour grade and PD-L1 expression in 41.7% of tumour cells from 120 patients with glioma (74).
The genotype of gliomas has been linked to PD-L1 expression, with significantly higher PD-L1 expression observed in wild-type IDH gliomas compared to IDH-mutant gliomas across various stages of gliomas (68, 69). This difference could be attributed to the increased methylation of the mutant PD-L1 promoter (70).
6.1.1.2 Clinical research of PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs in HGG
In a phase II study (NCT02337491) involving 80 patients with recurrent GBM who had not previously received bevacizumab, the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab combined with bevacizumab demonstrated a 6-month PFS of 26.0%, a median OS of 8.8 months and an objective response rate (ORR) of 20%. When pembrolizumab was administered alone, the 6-month PFS was 6.7%, the median OS was 10.3 months and the ORR was 0%. While pembrolizumab, either alone or in combination with bevacizumab, was well tolerated, it provided limited benefit (75).
Two studies focusing on HGG also showed limited survival benefit in patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab or nivolumab alone or in combination with bevacizumab salvage therapy (76, 77). CheckMate 143 (NCT02017717), a large phase III randomised clinical trial evaluating PD-1 pathway inhibitors in GBM, enrolled 369 patients and compared the PD-1 monoclonal antibody nivolumab monotherapy with bevacizumab in the treatment of first relapsed disease. Although nivolumab did not prolong OS in patients with relapsed GBM, a small proportion (8%) of patients exhibited a longer response duration to nivolumab than to bevacizumab (11.1 months vs. 5.3 months) (78).
The limited efficacy of monoclonal antibody PD-1 in treating recurrent HGG has led to its exploration in the neoadjuvant treatment model, showing promise.
In a randomised, multicenter clinical trial of neoadjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab in 35 patients with recurrent, resectable GBM, continuing the drug after surgery significantly prolonged OS by 6.2 months and PFS by 0.9 months compared to patients treated with pembrolizumab only after surgery. The study demonstrated that neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 immunotherapy not only directly affected tumour cells but also acted through a systemic immune response. This was evidenced by T-cell blockade, increased interferon-γ-related gene expression, local PD-L1 induction in the tumour microenvironment, increased T-cell clonal expansion, decreased PD-1 expression in peripheral blood T-cells and monocyte populations (79).
In another phase II clinical trial (NCT02550249), 27 recurrent cases and 3 treatment-naïve patients with GBM received nivolumab before surgery and continued treatment postoperatively until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. No clinical benefit was found in relapsed patients, but two treatment-naïve patients were still alive after 33 and 28 months. This study also found that neoadjuvant PD-1 monoclonal antibody therapy enhanced chemokine transcript expressions, increased immune cell infiltration, enhanced TCR clone diversity of tumour-infiltrating T lymphocytes and enhanced local immune regulation (80).
6.1.1.3 Effect of immune microenvironment on immunotherapy of HGG
The aforementioned studies suggest that PD-1 blockade induces T-cell activation and infiltration in the tumour microenvironment of GBM, altering the tumour immune microenvironment. They also highlight the role of the tumour immune system in tumour immunotherapy.
Changes in immune cell infiltration before and after neoadjuvant PD-1 monoclonal antibody therapy indicate its potential to induce the activation of T-cells and type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s). However, after anti-PD-1 therapy, macrophages and monocytes still constitute the majority of infiltrating immune cells and exhibit poor efficacy against immunosuppressive tumour-associated macrophages in recurrent GBM (81).
The primary clinical results of ICIs are summarised in Table 3. Overall, preliminary clinical trials of ICIs in glioma have yielded limited outcomes in primary and recurrent HGG compared to most solid tumours. Firstly, patients with GBM experience decreased levels of circulating CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes and widespread immunological dysfunction, exacerbated by lymphocyte-depleting therapies like chemotherapy (82, 83). Such therapies impact PD-1 antibody and PD-1 receptor interactions in lymphocytes. Secondly, drug permeability is limited in the presence of the BBB due to CNS pathophysiology, with compounds larger than 400-600 Da unable to permeate. This is unfavourable for ICI macromolecules (84). Pembrolizumab has a molecular weight of 149 kDa and nivolumab has a molecular weight of 145 kDa, suggesting that PD-1/PD-L1 axis-mediated antibody inhibition occurs outside the tumour. Effector T-cells in peripheral lymphoid tissue activate tumour-associated antigens, which then enter the tumour microenvironment and interact with anti-PD-1 antibodies (85).
Table 3 Results of major clinical studies of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors for HGG.
6.1.2 Advances in other immune checkpoints
6.1.2.1 CTLA-4
Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA4, CD152) is a co-inhibitory molecule (86) Chimeric fusion proteins consisting of the ectodomain of CTLA-4 can bind to B7-1 and B7-2, blocking T-cell activation (87). Statistical analysis based on clinical data has shown that CTLA-4 expression is higher in patients with higher grade, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type and mesenchymal-molecular subtype gliomas compared to patients with lower grade, IDH-mutant and other molecular subtype gliomas (88). This suggests that the expression pattern and clinical characteristics of CTLA-4 in glioma are related to tumour severity (89). Ipilimumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting CTLA-4, when combined with temozolomide was reported to not improve PFS or OS in patients with glioblastoma (90, 91). Another clinical trial reported that the intracerebral injection of ipilimumab plus the PD-1 blocking mAb nivolumab is feasible, safe and results in encouraging long-term OS (92). Therefore, combining additional immune checkpoint-blocking monoclonal antibodies may be a promising approach to further improve outcomes for patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
6.1.2.2 TIM-3
T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) is emerging as an important immune checkpoint molecule presents in various immune cells, such as T-cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages and NK, and tumour cells (93). Intratumoral TIM-3 expression by CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells was found to be higher in GBM compared with low-grade glioma, suggesting an association with glioma severity (94). Research has shown that triple therapy with anti-TIM-3 antibody, anti-PD-1 antibody and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can achieve 100% OS and increase immune cell infiltration, immune cell activity and memory performance (95). A trial is currently investigating anti-TIM-3 in combination with anti-PD-1 and SRS for the treatment of recurrent GBM (NCT03961971). Additionally, an ongoing open-label, multicenter, nonrandomised phase 1 and 2 clinical trial is evaluating various combinations of an investigational anti-TIM-3 mAb Bgb-A425 with the anti-PD-1 mAb tislelizumab in advanced solid tumours (96).
6.1.2.3 LAG-3
Lymphocyte-activating gene-3 (LAG-3) is an immunoglobulin expressed on various immune cells (NK cells, DC cells, T-cells and B cells) (97, 98) and plays an inhibitory role in T-cell signalling, proliferation and cytokine secretion (99). LAG-3 expression has been observed in human glioblastoma samples and its inhibition has shown efficacy against glioblastoma in preclinical studies. Moreover, it can be used in combination with other immune checkpoint inhibitors (100). Another study reported that TILs expressed LAG-3, which plays a crucial role in the tumour microenvironment (101). Clinical trials have confirmed the safety of combining anti-LAG-3 and anti-PD-1 treatments in glioblastoma (102). Further research should focus on understanding the role of LAG-3 in the tumour microenvironment and investigating the potential of anti-LAG-3 mAb in glioblastoma.
6.1.2.4 CD73
CD73 (ecto-5’-nucleotidase) is an ecto-nucleotidase that dephosphorylates AMP to form adenosine. The activation of adenosine signalling pathways in immune cells leads to the inhibition of effector functions (103). In the tumour microenvironment, adenosine promotes immune suppression through negative feedback signals and is considered an important mechanism for cancer cell immune evasion (104). Glioma-derived CD73 contributes to immune suppression (105). AK119 is an anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody (106). An ongoing phase 1 study (NCT04572152) is evaluating the safety, anti-tumour activity and pharmacokinetics of AK119 in combination with an anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody in advanced solid tumours (106).
6.1.2.5 CD137
CD137, also known as 4-1BB, is one of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family targets (107). It serves as a co-stimulating molecule and regulates various immune cells, including CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, NK cells, dendritic cells (DC) and regulatory T-cells (Treg) (108). In an in vitro model of human glioma, enhanced tumour immune responses were observed when the antibody against CD137 was used (109). Additionally, Puigdelloses et al. constructed Delta-24-ACT, a novel OV armed with 4-1BB ligand (4-1bbL) (110). In GBM murine models, Delta-24-ACT elicited a more potent anti-tumour effect with longer median survival and a higher percentage of long-term survivors (110). However, a recent phase 1 trial study (NCT02658981) involving the anti-CD137 antibody treatment arm was closed. Further clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of anti-CD137 antibody treatment.
6.1.2.6 TIGIT
T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) is a co-inhibitory molecule expressed on T-cells, including tumour-infiltrating T-cells, Treg, memory subsets and NK cells (111, 112). Preclinical studies have demonstrated that antibodies blocking TIGIT plus PD-L1 or TIM-3 simultaneously can specifically enhance the effector function of CD8+ T-cells, leading to significant anti-tumour immune response (112, 113). Furthermore, TIGIT expression was found to be upregulated in CD8+ T-cells at tumour sites in patients with GBM compared with healthy controls (114). Clinical studies have also demonstrated increased expression of TIGIT on TILs in GBM patient samples (115). Similarly, in a mouse model of GBM, anti-TIGIT combined with anti-PD-1 improved survival compared with monotherapy (115). Another study analysed the TCGA transcriptome database and identified PD1 and TIGIT as preferred targets for GBM immunotherapy. Furthermore, they also reported that the dual blockade of PD1 and TIGIT improved survival and increased CD8+ TIL accumulation and function compared with either drug alone in a murine GBM model (116). Therefore, TIGIT represents a promising target for immunotherapy in patients with GBM, and ongoing clinical trials are evaluating anti-TIGIT combined with anti-PD-1 antibody treatment for recurrent GBM (NCT04656535).
6.1.2.7 B7 family
The B7 family, including B7-1 (CD80), B7-2 (CD86), B7-H1 (PD-L1), B7-DC (CD273, PD-L2), B7-H2 (CD275), B7-H3 (CD276), B7-H4 (VTCN1), B7-H5 (VISTA), B7-H6 (NCR3LG1) and B7-H7 (HHLA2), constitutes a large immune checkpoint family (117). In addition to the classic immune checkpoint PD-L1, B7-H3, B7-H4, B7-H5 and B7-H6 have co-suppressive or costimulatory functions on the immune system (118).
6.1.2.7.1 B7-H3
Initially reported to positively regulate T-cell proliferation (119), subsequent studies found that B7-H3 has an inhibitory effect on cytotoxic T-cells while negatively regulating pro-inflammatory Th1 cells (120). Based on the CGGA and TCGA projects, B7-H3 has been found to be upregulated in higher grade gliomas compared to lower grade gliomas (121). Furthermore, a recent multi-omics analysis reported high B7-H3 expression in multiple cancer types and correlated this upregulation with poorer survival and prognosis (122). Additionally, B7-H3 expression was found to be significantly elevated in GBM compared with normal controls (122). Nonetheless, further preclinical studies and clinical data are needed to elucidate the role of B7-H3 in glioma.
6.1.2.7.2 B7-H4
B7-H4, also known as VTCN1, is an inhibitory molecule expressed on APCs that inhibits T-cells and promotes immune escape (123). Studies have found that B7-H4 expression in tumours is related to the prognosis of human glioblastoma and is directly related to the degree of malignancy (124). B7-H4 activation on macrophages/microglia in the glioma microenvironment is an important immunosuppressive process that prevents effective T-cell immune responses (124). B7-H4 expression was reported to be increased in gliomas with low PD-L1 expression, suggesting potential compensatory immune checkpoint mechanisms in gliomas (125).
6.1.2.7.3 B7-H5
B7-H5, also known as VISTA, is the V-domain Ig suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA). Within the lymphocyte compartment, VISTA is highly expressed on naive CD4+ and Foxp3+ Regulatory T cells (126). Ghouzlani et al. utilised TCGA data to investigate VISTA expression of 667 patients with glioma using RNA-seq data (127). In this study, VISTA was found to be highly expressed in HGG and associated with poor OS (127). This suggests that B7-H5 may be involved in glioma progression and could become a potential therapeutic target, especially in advanced gliomas.
6.1.2.7.4 B7-H6
B7-H6, also known as natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 3 (NCR3LG1), plays a crucial role in NK cells and mediated immune responses (128). In U87 and U251 glioma cells, the knockdown of B7-H6 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion but increased apoptosis and enhanced cell cycle arrest (129). Similarly, B7-H6 was found to be expressed in glioma cells and tissues isolated from patients with glioma (130). However, there are currently no ongoing or finished clinical/preclinical trials targeting B7-H6 in glioma or glioblastoma, warranting further research to explore its therapeutic potential. The clinical results mentioned above are summarized in Table 4. In summary, there are several types of immune checkpoints besides PD-1/PD-L1, all of which show potential for treating glioblastoma, although more exciting clinical results are needed.
Table 4 Results of major clinical studies of other immune checkpoint inhibitors for glioblastoma.
6.2 Vaccines
Cancer vaccines represent a promising avenue of immunotherapy aimed at eliciting a long-lasting immune response to eliminate tumour cells. The majority of peptide vaccines under investigation for glioma aim to stimulate CD8+ T-cells or CD4+ T helper cells to target tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) or tumour specific antigens (TSAs). CD8+ T-cells, in particular, can recognise human leukocyte antigen (HLA) peptide complexes and generate long-lasting memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses against antigen-presenting cells (131). Hence, the selection of appropriate tumour antigens to induce specific cytotoxicity against tumour cells is crucial in the development of therapeutic cancer vaccines. In Table 5, we have summarized recent clinical studies of vaccine therapy in GBM.
Table 5 Results of major clinical studies of vaccines for glioblastoma.
6.2.1 Vaccines of EGFR
Approximately 40% of newly diagnosed GBMs exhibit EGFR gene amplification, with nearly half of these cases featuring persistently active and oncogenic epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) (140, 141). EGFRvIII introduces a novel glycine residue at the junction of exons 1 and 8, creating a unique tumour neoantigen with immunogenicity in humans (142). Therefore, vaccine therapies targeting EGFRvIII have been developed for glioma.
Rindopepimut (CDX-110), the most well-known peptide vaccine targeting EGFRvIII, was first designed in the late 1990s. It has demonstrated the ability to induce cytotoxic T-cell responses and exhibited promising preclinical efficacy in mouse brain tumour models (143). However, in a large-scale randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial (NCT01480479) investigating the addition of rindopepimut to standard chemotherapy in newly diagnosed patients with glioblastoma, the inclusion of rindopepimut failed to improve survival outcomes. However, rindopepimut displayed favourable tolerability and mitigated the risk of seizure, epilepsy, brain oedema and other adverse effects (132). This prompted a careful review of the design, leading to the refinement of treatment strategies. One such strategy is enhanced proteasome processing, such as the EGFRvIII tyrosine substitution vaccination, which increased median survival in an intracranial glioma model (144).
In a double-blind randomised phase II trial (NCT01498328) involving 73 patients with relapsed EGFRvIII-positive glioblastoma, the addition of rindopepimut to standard bevacizumab treatment conferred a significant survival advantage. Patients who received combination therapy experienced higher 6-month Progression-Free Survival (PFS6), ORR and median duration of response (133). This study underscores the potential clinical utility of targeting EGFRvIII; however, validation from larger trails is warranted to ascertain the heterogeneity of combined drug responses among patients.
6.2.2 Vaccines targeting IDH
The IDH1 mutation, notably affecting codon 132 and encoding IDH1-R132H, presents a shared clonal neoepitope in the class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (145, 146). Preclinical data suggests that IDH1-R132H-specific polypeptide vaccines can induce specific therapeutic T helper cell responses and exhibit efficacy against IDH1-R132H-positive tumours in isogenic MHC human mice (145, 147–149).
Taking advantage of the potential positive immune interaction between standard care and vaccination, a multi-centre phase 1 clinical study involving 33 newly diagnosed WHO grade 3 and 4 IDH1-R132H-positive astrocytomas (NCT02454634) demonstrated favourable tolerability of IDH1-R132H-specific polypeptide vaccines. The study reported that vaccine-related AEs were limited to level 1. Notably, up to 93.3% of patients observed a vaccine-induced immune response in multiple MHC alleles, with a two-year PFS rate of 0.82 and a higher rate of survival than those who did not have the immune response (134).
Further investigations have revealed that IDH1 can selectively bind CD8 dimers and enhance immunotherapy effects by augmenting T-cell responsiveness to multiple tumour antigens. However, mutant IDH1R132H exhibits impaired sialidase activity and delayed killing in glioma cells (150), underscoring the complexity of IDH1-mediated immunotherapy in glioma tumours.
6.2.3 Vaccines targeting Wilms’ tumour gene 1
Another known TAA is the product of the Wilms’ tumour gene 1 (WT1) gene. The WT1 gene, encoding a zinc finger transcription factor, was identified as the gene responsible for Wilms tumour. Notably, WT1 plays a role in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and organ development (151). It is also reported to be present in many solid tumours, including gliomas.
A phase 2 clinical trial evaluated the clinical response of patients with relapsed GBM to peptide immunotherapy targeting the WT1 gene product. Focal erythema appeared only at the injection site of the WT1 vaccine, with a disease control rate of 57.1%, median PFS of 20.0 weeks and PFS6 rate of 33.3%. This study demonstrated acceptable safety profiles and clinical responses of the WT1 vaccines for patients with recurrent GBM (135).
Cocktail treatments of WT1 HLA class I and II vaccinations have shown promising safety profiles and clinical responses in patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. All 14 patients in that study exhibited grade I level of skin disorders at the injection sites. Six of the 14 patients had stable disease at 6 weeks. Overall, median OS was 24.7 weeks and 1-year OS rates were 36% (136). Therefore, these encouraging outcomes underscore the potential of the WTI vaccine as a therapeutic option for patients with recurrent malignant glioma, warranting further investigation in larger clinical studies.
6.2.4 Dendritic cell-based vaccine
DCs, functioning as APCs, are sensitised with TSAs and then administered as a vaccine to stimulate T-cells capable of mounting an anti-tumour response. Multiple small-scale clinical trials have consistently demonstrated the overall safety and provided indirect evidence of clinical efficacy for DC vaccines employing active-specific immunisation strategies targeting the deleterious course of patients with GBM, albeit utilising different non-standardised DC vaccine products (152, 153).
A phase II trial of DC vaccine ICT-107 focused on HLA-A1+ and/or -A2+ GBM patients who underwent surgery with a residual tumour not exceeding 1 cm3, followed by radiotherapy and concurrent TMZ therapy (137). In another phase 1 study, ICT-107, an autologous DC immunotherapy targeting class I peptides from TAAs expressed on gliomas and cancer stem cell populations, demonstrated promising efficacy after an intradermal administration of ICT-107 in patients with GBM (154). Furthermore, the phase II study reported an extended PFS of 2.2 months while maintaining OS compared to the unpulsed DC group. Moreover, HLA-A2-positive patients exhibited a higher immune response and greater benefit compared to HLA-A1-positive patients (137). A phase III trial is reported to be in the works, employing HLA-A2-positive, treatment-naïve GBM patients due to the clinical benefits reported by the phase 2 trial. However, the PFS improvement in the phase 2 study is very modest and the outlook is inevitably worrisome. A survival benefit for OS can also be observed in HLA-A1 patients with MGMT promoter methylation, almost doubling the PFS in the full HLA-A2 group (from 25.8 months in the control group to 47.6 months in the experimental group). These benefits underscore the need for further research in this patient subset.
Another approach involves DC vaccination pulsed with TAAs, such as Wilm’s tumour 1 peptide, which has safety and efficacy in the treatment of gliomas. A study involving patients with malignant gliomas investigated the safety and immunogenicity of WT-1 pulsed DCs vaccination therapy and reported no serious side effects, with 2 of 5 patients demonstrating tumour shrinkage (155). Recent research introduced a novel DC vaccine named CellgramDC-WT1 (CDW), which was pulsed with WT1 antigen (156). Moreover, zoledronate was selected as an inducer of DC maturation. CDW was found to induce the secretion of IL-12 and IFN-γ, which induced the differentiation of naive T-cells to active CD8+ T-cells and elicited CTL response against cancer cells with WT1 antigens (156).
6.2.5 Neoantigen-based vaccines
CD8+ T-cells and CD4+ T-cells monitor peptides presented by HLA-1 and HLA-2, respectively. These peptides are also called HLA-associated peptidomes, which can provide valuable and unique information about the cell, including tumour cells. A study isolated the HLA/peptide complex from HLA-A*02+ GBM samples. They investigated 10 highly expressed glioblastoma-associated antigens in tumours and identified a multi-peptide vaccine (IMA950) (157). In a subsequent phase 1 study of IMA950 with 45 newly diagnosed GBM samples, researchers observed that 36 patients had tumour-associated peptide (TUMAP) response and 20 patients displayed multi-TUMAP response. At the primary immunogenicity endpoints, IMA950 was identified to be well tolerated, warranting further investigation (138).
Recently, personalised neoantigen-based vaccines have demonstrated excellent safety and immunogenicity in GBM. Two phase 1 clinical trials, GAPVAC-101 and the NeoVax neoantigen vaccine study, included a total of 24 patients. The median OS of GAPVAC-101 was 29 months, and both trials demonstrated high immunogenicity, with CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses occurring in 92% (12/13) and 80% (8/10) of patients, respectively. The GAPVAC-101 study revealed 50%−84.7% active customised vaccine-induced immunogenicity, with no occurrence of significant treatment-related AEs (139, 158). Safe and highly immunogenic personalised vaccinations targeting unmutated peptides and neoantigens hold promise for benefitting patients with GBM.
6.2.6 Combination treatment
In addition to the initial successful attempts at cancer vaccines, numerous personalised cancer vaccines are currently under evaluation in clinical trials, often in combination with checkpoint blockade modulators or cytokine therapy, yielding promising results in various solid or metastatic tumours (159, 160). Notably, checkpoint inhibitor treatment can trigger tumour-reactive T-cell infiltration, which may occur spontaneously in a small number of patients with cancer who are sensitive to checkpoint blockade. Additionally, cancer vaccines activate CD8+ T-cells, increasing the expression of PD-1, CTLA-4, LAG-3 and other inhibitory receptors in T-cells (161–164).
Therefore, combination therapy with cancer vaccines and checkpoint inhibitors has promising benefits, as evidenced in multiple preclinical studies. The blockade of PD-1 and/or LAG-3 has been demonstrated to enhance the anti-tumour efficacy of vaccines in three non-glioma tumour models. In particular, in the prostate cancer model, combined blockade of PD-1 and LAG-3 with vaccination resulted in a significant anti-tumour effect. Conversely, PD-1 blockade alone, in combination with vaccination against ‘self’ tumour antigens, was less effective. Moreover, checkpoint receptor expression increased in CD8+ T-cells after vaccine-mediated activation (165).
In mice bearing intracranial gliomas, PD-1 mAb blockade combined with DC vaccination resulted in long-term survival, while neither agent alone induced a survival benefit completely dependent on CD8+ T-cells. Furthermore, DC vaccination plus PD-1 blockade resulted in TIL homing and immune memory marker upregulation. In clinical samples, DC vaccination of patients with GBM was associated with upregulated PD-1 expression in vivo and PD-1 blockade in vitro, with freshly isolated TIL significantly enhancing the cytolysis of autologous tumour cells (166).
Despite the challenges posed by the complexity of cancer immunology, ongoing research into vaccine-based cancer treatment options is encouraged by advancements in vaccine technology and our evolving understanding of cancer immunology.
6.3 CAR-T cells
Genetically engineered autologous T-cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) have revolutionised the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. However, CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumours, including brain tumours, presents numerous challenges, particularly due to the BBB, which impedes T-cell localisation and effector function. However, recent clinical studies have demonstrated that CAR-T cells can successfully traffic to active GBM regions, and expand and improve treatment feasibility and safety.
CARs are bio-engineered receptors that activate T-cells to become effector cells capable of recognising and eliminating target cells expressing specific antigens (167). Target selection, coverage, specificity and target expression stability are critical considerations in CAR-T therapy efficacy (168). Current CAR-T therapeutic targets in GBM must be evaluated in light of these considerations.
6.3.1 IL13Rα2 CAR-T
IL13Rα2, a high affinity IL-13 receptor monomer expressed by myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumour-infiltrating macrophages, in over 50% of GBMs, has been associated with poor survival (168–170). Importantly, IL13Rα2 is minimally expressed in normal brain tissue (171–173), making it an attractive immunotherapy target. Recent studies have investigated CAR-T cells targeting IL13Rα2 that were delivered intracranially into the resection cavity of three patients with recurrent GBM, demonstrating good tolerance and manageable transient encephalitis. Two patients experienced transient anti-glioma responses, with one patient showing decreased IL13Rα2 expression in tumour tissue after treatment and the other exhibiting an increase in tumour necrosis volume at the administration site on MRI (174).
In another study, CAR-T cells targeting IL13Rα2 were used to treat a patient with relapsed multifocal GBM. The trial utilised two intracranial delivery methods for multiple infusions of CAR-T cells into the cavity of the excised tumour and the ventricular system. No grade 3 or higher toxicity was reported from intracranial IL13Rα2-targeted CAR-T cell infusion. After CAR-T cell therapy, all intracranial and spinal tumours retreated, and the quantities of cytokines and immune cells in the cerebrospinal fluid increased in tandem. Notably, this therapeutic effect continued for 7.5 months after CAR-T cell therapy commencement (175).
6.3.2 EGFRvIII CAR-T
CAR-T targeting EGFRvIII have also been investigated for their potential in treating GBM. In a study of 10 patients with relapsed GBM, an infusion of EGFRvIII CAR-T cells resulted in detectable transient expansion of CART-EGFRvIII cells in the peripheral blood. Among them, two exhibited CART-EGFRvIII DNA levels that were three or one hundred times higher in the brain than in the peripheral blood at two weeks after infusion. However, the study also found a higher and more robust expression of inhibitory molecules in tumour samples after CART-EGFRvIII infusion, with Treg infiltration creating an opportunity for subsequent surgical treatment (176).
For improving the efficacy of EGFRvIII-targeting CAR-T without inducing off-targeting toxicity, a humanised antibody M27 was developed to specifically bind to both wild-type EGFR- and EGFRvIII-overexpressing tumour cells (177). The M27-derived CAR-T cells were found to effectively target and lyse EGFR-EGFRvIII-overexpressing tumour cells without observable toxicity on normal cells. When CD137 (4-1BB) costimulatory intracellular domain was included in the M27-28BBZ CAR-T cells, EGFR- and EGFRvIII-over-expressing GBM cells were effectively inhibited, prolonging the survival of mice (177).
Recently, a novel GCT02 CAR-T cell was designed to target a new single-chain variable fragment (scFv), demonstrating a high affinity to EGFRvIII. In a xenograft model of human GBM, GCT02 CAR-T cells rapidly eliminated tumour cells with decreased cytokines secretion (178). Further research demonstrated that GCT02 CAR-T exhibited highly specific EGFRvIII-targeting preclinical function (179). Therefore, such CAR approaches need further clinical investigations.
6.3.3 HER2 CAR-T
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) binds with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) ligands, promoting downstream signalling pathways such as Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK1/2 and phospholipase (180). Apart from breast cancer, HER2 is also overexpressed in gastric cancer, lung cancer, oesophageal cancer and sarcomas (181, 182). Therefore, HER2 is considered an ideal CAR-targeted TAA for GBM.
Ahmed et al. reported that HER2-specific CAR-T cells from patients with GBM exhibited an anti-tumour activity against autologous primary HER2-positive GBM tumour cells and CD133-positive GBM stem cells. In an orthotopic xenogeneic SCID mouse model, these HER2-specific CAR-T cells exerted a potent anti-tumour activity (183). Similarly, in clinical research, 17 patients with advanced HER2-positive GBM tumours received one or more infusions of HER2-specific CAR-modified virus-specific T-cells (HER2-CAR VSTs). All patients had detectable HER2-CAR VSTs in peripheral blood after infusion. Although two individuals suffered from grade 2 seizures or headaches, the medication was well tolerated with no dose-limiting effects. The median OS was 11.1 months from the first T-cell infusion and 24.5 months from diagnosis. Three patients had stable disease with no evidence of progression after 24 to 29 months of follow-up (184). Thus, HER2-CAR VSTs have promising benefits in the treatment of GBM. Hence, further exploration of HER2-CAR VSTs in combination with other immunotherapy approaches might provide novel therapeutic strategies (185).
6.3.4 EphA2 CAR-T
Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma A2 (EphA2) has emerged as an attractive target for the immunotherapy of GBM due to its overexpression in glioma while being minimally expressed i normal brain tissue. Preclinical research has shown that EphA2-specific CAR-T cells can induce regression of glioma xenografts in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice and a significant survival advantage compared to untreated mice and mice treated with nontransduced T-cells (186).
Studies have revealed that EphA2 overexpression enhances the invasiveness of GSCs in vivo through Akt signalling, contributing to tumour stem properties (187). Moreover, upregulation of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) due to high expression of EphA2, combined with PDGFA-induced EphA2 activation, correlates with worse patient prognosis and poorer therapeutic outcomes, suggesting a potential combination therapy strategy targeting both PDGFRA and EphA2 (188). In another study, CAR-T cells targeting EphA2 demonstrated anti-tumour activation linked to upregulation of CXCR-1/2 and appropriate interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production (189).
In a study of trivalent CAR-T targeting EphA2, HER2 and IL13Rα2, Bielamowicz et al. designed UCART cells that exhibited improved cytotoxicity and cytokine release and could control autologous GBM patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) models and improve survival of treated animals in low doses (190). Despite promising preclinical results, further clinical research is needed to validate their anti-tumour effects.
6.3.5 Other CAR-T methods
While CAR-T therapy shows promise in glioma treatment, it has been observed that there are escape mechanisms present in single-target CAR-T therapy. For instance, when targeting HER2 in a GBM cell line, HER2-null tumour cells emerge that still express non-targeted TAAs (191). This observation highlights the need for a combined approach of targeting these TAAs to counteract this escape mechanism. Specifically, in a cohort of 20 primary GBMs, tumours targeting HER2 or IL13Rα2 alone had a near-complete eradication rate of 60%−70%, whereas tumours targeting both HER2 and IL13Rα2 had a rate exceeding 90% (191).
Based on this, Hegde M et al. designed tandem CAR-T cells (TanCAR) targeting HER2 and IL13Rα2 (192). TanCAR acts on HER2 and IL13Rα2 by inducing HER2-IL13Rα2 heterodimers and promoting superadditive T-cell activation upon simultaneous encounter of both antigens. Compared with biCAR (bi-expressers of both HER2 and IL13Rα2 CAR), HER2 CAR, IL13rα2 CAR and TanCAR exhibited higher autologous GBM cell lysis rate and cytokine production (IFN-γ and IL-2). In a GBM mouse model, TanCAR T-cells reduced antigen escape and exhibited higher anti-tumour efficacy and animal survival. Thus, TanCAR T-cells can enhance the control of glioblastoma multiforme through the synergistic effect of HER2 and IL13Rα2, highlighting their therapeutic potential (192).
Recently, a novel tandem CAR-T cell (TanCART) with dual specificity for EGFRvIII and IL-13Rα2 was reported in a preclinical study (193). TanCART exhibited more rapid and complete cytotoxicity but did not exhibit increased off-target activity against target cells compared to monospecific CAR-T cells alone. The anti-tumour activity of TanCART cells against heterogeneous glioma (U87MG) populations in an orthotopic mouse model was able to achieve long-term, complete and durable responses (193). These findings warrant further in vivo studies to establish a novel combination of treatment modalities that could revolutionise CAR-T cell therapy for patients with GBM.
Despite challenges in identifying an ideal target for solid tumours, exploration of new targets such as EphA2 (187, 188), GD2 (194, 195), B7-H2 (196, 197), Chlorotoxin (198) and CD317 (199) in CAR-T therapy of gliomas holds promise for developing combination treatment strategies. Additionally, CAR-T therapy should not be limited to directly destroying cancer cells. Instead, it can be leveraged to stimulate endogenous immune responses against tumours, and techniques to disrupt the tumour microenvironment may enhance efficacy.
Another consideration in CAR-T immunotherapy is the administration method. I Initial experiences with CAR-T cells in relapsed GBM suggest that both modalities of administration, either directly intracranially or via peripheral intravenous infusion, can produce targeted activity in the brain. However, there is debate regarding the optimal method, as the complete distribution of peripherally injected CAR-T cells throughout the brain, particularly in non-enhancing areas of invasive tumours, is not yet established. Another approach to the direct infusion of CAR-T cells into the CNS, such as intraluminal or intraventricular administration, appears to help reduce systemic AEs; however, relevant data are limited. 6.4 Macrophage-based immunotherapy
6.4 Macrophage-based Immunotherapy
Tumour-associated macrophages/microglia constitute the predominant immune cell population within the GBM microenvironment. These TAMs can be categorised into two main phenotypes: tumour-suppressing type (sTAM, M1) and tumour-promoting type (ptam, M2), based on their functional roles (200). Studies have elucidated the critical roles of pTAMs, along with glioma stem cells (GSCs), and their interplay in promoting tumour progression and therapeutic resistance in GBMs (201).
6.4.1 CSF1R
CSF1R (colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor) is expressed at elevated levels in monocytes and tissue macrophages (202), regulating the differentiation and survival of the mononuclear phagocyte system and macrophages (202). PLX3397 is a small molecule, orally administered, that selectively inhibits CSF1R. In phase 2, an open-label, single-agent trial (NCT01349036), Butowski et al. demonstrated that PLX3397 was well tolerated and readily crossed the blood-tumour barrier but showed no efficacy in patients with recurrent GBM (203). Another ongoing phase 1b/2 study (NCT01790503) of PLX3397 is evaluating its potential to improve the efficacy of standard-of-care radiation therapy plus temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed GBM.
6.4.2 CD47-SIRPα
CD47, a surface immunoglobulin-like protein (204), serves various functions including regulating neutrophil migration, axon extension and T-cell co-stimulation (205). SIRPα is one of its receptors that is expressed on macrophages, which negatively regulates phagocytosis (204). Recently, Hutter et al. reported that the disruption of the SIRPα-CD47 signalling axis was effective against various brain tumours, including GBM, primarily by inducing tumour phagocytosis (206). Similarly, Hsu et al. reported that rapamycin and hydroxychloroquine (RQ) may be associated with the downregulation of the CD47-SIRPα axis, thereby reducing M2 polarisation and improving macrophage phagocytosis (207). Their data provide a rational design for GBM combined with anti-PD-1 and RQ therapy. These results provide implications for a promising therapeutic strategy in GBM by targeting the CD47- SIRPα signalling axis.
7 Conclusions and future perspective
Recurrence is common in HGG due to their unique biology, posing a significant hurdle in modern treatment. Recent treatment approaches have shifted towards molecular profiling of CNS tumour classifications, emphasising key genomic alterations in each classification group to guide treatment decisions and strategy development. Chemotherapy tailored to molecular characteristics offers more precise and effective treatment, with heightened chemosensitivity observed in cases with IDH mutations. There are ongoing efforts to develop advanced drug delivery systems capable of overcoming the BBB. Advances in radiation technology have enabled selective reradiation, often in combination with bevacizumab or TMZ. Antivascular targeting drugs that have shown efficacy in other solid tumours are also being explored in HGG treatment. Notably, IDH-selective inhibitors have demonstrated considerable survival benefits in vivo. However, checkpoint inhibitors targeting immune checkpoint expression in HGG tumour cells have yielded limited efficacy in primary and recurrent HGG compared to most solid tumours, albeit with potential for selective application. Vaccine therapy holds promise based on biological and preclinical rationale, yet its clinical translation remains challenging. Preliminary experience with CAR-T cells in relapsed GBM suggests that both direct intracranial or peripheral intravenous infusion can yield targeted activity in the brain. Future research should prioritise ideal target screening, recognising that CAR-T therapy’s role extends beyond direct tumour killing. Strategies that activate endogenous tumour immune responses and disrupt the tumour growth environment can be more effective in addressing practical challenges. Combinatorial strategies, including the combination of multiple ICIs, ICIs with vaccines and CAR-T cells, are currently at the forefront of immunotherapy to overcome the immune resistance of glioma. TTFields present a candidate for combination with immunotherapy due to their nontoxic nature, involvement in immune pathways, and activation of multiple pathways leading to apoptosis. The development of multiple treatment modalities for HGG is ongoing, necessitating further research to establish better treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.
Author contributions
XC: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Conceptualization, Supervision. LZ: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing, Supervision. YC: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Keywords: high-grade gliomas, glioblastoma, cytotoxic chemotherapy, tumour treating fields, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy
Citation: Chen X, Cui Y and Zou L (2024) Treatment advances in high-grade gliomas. Front. Oncol. 14:1287725. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1287725
Received: 02 September 2023; Accepted: 25 March 2024;
Published: 10 April 2024.
Edited by:
Sameh Elmorsy Hassan Elmorsy, Cairo University, EgyptReviewed by:
Wantao Wu, Central South University, ChinaHu Jinyang, Three Gorges University and Yichang Central People’s Hospital, China
Copyright © 2024 Chen, Cui and Zou. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Liqun Zou, zliqun@hotmail.com
†These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship