Immunotherapy targeting glioma stem cells and its microenvironment

Abstract

Glioma is the most prevailing primary malignant tumor in the central nervous system.Given that glioma stem cells (GSCs) and its microenvironment are pivotal for the occurrence and progressionof glioma, various targeted therapy including immunotherapy is promising to improve prognosis of glioma.Monoclonal antibodies could inhibit GSCs biological activity through specifically recognizing GSCs markers.GSCs tumor⁃related gene mutations lead to selective replication of oncolytic viruses in GSCs, which inhibitsproliferation of GSCs. The chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR ⁃ T) are activated in vitro, transferredback, and set off targeted immune cascade towards GSCs. Because of the high expression of activatedligand and low expression of major histocompatibility complexⅠ (MHC⁃Ⅰ）in GSCs, Natural killer (NK)cells have a promising anti⁃tumor performance. Furthermore, the inhibition of immune checkpoints in GSCsmicroenvironment plays a vital role in process of immune escape. So intervention of these immunecheckpoints has be a heated topic in tumor immunotherapy. Although the immunotherapy strategy targetingGSCs shows a certain effect to varying degrees, it is far from mature and needs to be further explored.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2020.02.004