immunotherapy of brain (CNS) cancer

Brain and central nervous system (CNS) cancers are a complex group of diseases. They can either start in the brain or spinal cord (primary) or spread from other parts of the body (metastatic). Common primary tumors include gliomas, meningiomas, medulloblastomas, pituitary tumors, and lymphomas. Symptoms vary depending on the tumor's location and size but often include headaches, seizures, vision problems, and cognitive or personality changes. Treatment options depend on the type and stage of the tumor and may involve surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, treating brain cancer presents significant challenges for several reasons: ۱. Some brain tumors are located in critical brain areas, making them difficult to reach without risking damage. ۲. The blood-brain barrier can prevent many drugs from reaching the tumor. ۳. Brain tumors consist of diverse cell types, making it hard to target all cancer cells effectively. ۴. Tumors infiltrate surrounding healthy brain tissue, making complete surgical removal impossible. ۵. Brain tumors can become resistant to standard treatments over time, reducing their effectiveness. ۶. Treatment options for brain cancer are limited compared to other types of cancer. Immunotherapy holds promise as a treatment for brain cancers by leveraging the body's immune system to target cancer cells. There are different types of immunotherapies such as Checkpoint Inhibitors, CAR T-Cell Therapy, Vaccines, and Monoclonal Antibodies, each offering a different approach to harnessing the immune system to fight cancer. Ongoing research continues to explore their potential in treating brain cancers. - Checkpoint inhibitors work by blocking proteins that stop immune cells (T cells) from attacking cancer cells. Examples of checkpoint inhibitors include Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Nivolumab (Opdivo), and Ipilimumab (Yervoy). These drugs are being studied for their potential effectiveness in treating brain cancers such as glioblastoma. - CAR T-cell therapy involves modifying a patient's T cells genetically to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that can target cancer cells more effectively. Early trials are investigating the potential of CAR T-cell therapy, particularly for glioblastomas. - Cancer vaccines are designed to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack specific cancer cells. They are being developed and tested for brain cancers to boost the immune response against tumor cells. - Monoclonal antibodies are man-made molecules that can attach to specific targets (antigens) on cancer cells. An example of a monoclonal antibody is Bevacizumab (Avastin), which is used to treat glioblastoma by inhibiting angiogenesis. Monoclonal antibodies play a crucial role in brain cancer treatment by targeting specific proteins on cancer cells or delivering radiation or chemotherapy directly to the tumor. Recent strides in immunotherapy for brain cancer offer significant hope and therapeutic potential. Researchers have developed a skull-implantable ultrasound device that temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier, allowing immunotherapy drugs to reach glioblastoma cells more effectively. This method enhances the immune system’s ability to attack the cancer. Additionally, combining immunotherapies like checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy or radiation is being explored to create a stronger immune response against brain tumors.

کلیدواژه ها:

CNS cancers ، brain cancer ، treatment ، immunotherapy