CAR-NK cell therapy combined with checkpoint inhibition induces an NKT cell response in glioblastoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain tumor with limited efficacy of established therapies, and a pronounced immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Targeting HER2 with local immunotherapy allows for high tumor specificity in the brain with physiologically very low expression. Monotherapy with CAR-NK cells targeted against HER2 has previously shown efficacy in medium-sized GL261/HER2 tumors.

Methods

Advanced GL261/HER2 tumors were treated by local CAR-NK cell injection combined with systemic anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade. Tumor growth and survival were monitored. In-depth characterization of the microenvironment was performed by multiplex immune fluorescence, spectral flow cytometry and RNAseq.

Results

Untreated GL261/HER2 tumors were characte

SUBMITTER: Strassheimer F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12041480 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature