Immunotherapy for brain tumors in Germany: present and future
Malignant brain tumors, particularly glioblastomas, are very aggressive. Even after complete removal, they often recur and in many cases are diagnosed at an inoperable stage. Treatments for these diseases include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and sometimes targeted therapy.
There is also great hope for immunotherapy for cancer, which has shown excellent results in the treatment of many types of brain oncology. Let us discuss the present and future of immunotherapy in Germany.
Approved types of immunotherapy
Primary brain tumors, including glioblastoma, have proven to be insensitive to most immunotherapies. No method has yet been approved for immunotherapy treatment of brain cancer.
While PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, which prevent tumors from evading the immune response, have revolutionized the treatment of many cancers, they have not worked for brain tumors.
After surgery, these drugs failed to reduce the risk of recurrence, although some trials have demonstrated a benefit of these drugs in neoadjuvant (preoperative) treatment.
Future of immunotherapy for brain tumors
Virtually the entire field of immunotherapy for brain tumors is focused on the future. Currently, it is only available to patients enrolled in clinical trials.
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-lymphocyte therapy is considered one of the most promising treatments for neoplasms of the central nervous system.
Physicians remove a patient’s immune cells, alter their genome, and reintroduce them into the body, where they more actively attack the tumor. However, technical complexity and high cost are potential barriers to widespread use of this technique.
Tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are used as targets. They are present in brain tumors but not in normal tissue. Initial studies have shown good results in delivering the modified cells to the cerebrospinal fluid spaces of the brain via an Ommaya reservoir.
CAR T-cell therapy targeting interleukin-13 glioma TAAs (IL13R)α2 and high-affinity IL13 receptors is currently under investigation. They are being tested in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. These drugs are combined with immune response checkpoint inhibitors. HER2 and CLTX are also targets being studied.
The results are currently mixed. Some patients experience obvious therapeutic effects, including complete tumor disappearance, while the majority do not respond to therapy.
Other promising immunotherapies for brain cancer that undergo clinical trials include:
- Neoantigen vaccines
- Multipeptide vaccines
- DNX-2401 oncolytic adenovirus immunotherapy
- PVSRIPO immunotherapy (Istari Oncology), based on the poliovirus Sabin type 1
- VBI-1901 vaccine (VBI)
- IGV-001 vaccine derived from tumor cells
- Dendritic cell immunotherapy treatment
All these techniques are still undergoing early-phase research.
Starting immunotherapy right now
Some specialized centers abroad are already using viruses, anti-cancer vaccines and other immunotherapeutic techniques to treat brain tumors.
You can use the services of the best doctors in the world by applying for diagnostics and treatment abroad through the Booking Health service. The prices are listed on our website, where you can select a clinic and receive consultation from medical tourism specialists.
The Booking Health experts will help you select a specialized center, where cancer immunotherapy is carried out, and arrange your trip abroad. Don’t let borders limit your access to advanced healthcare. Take a proactive approach towards your well-being by exploring the possibilities offered by Booking Health.
