title: Immunotherapy of Malignant Tumors in the Brain: How Different from Other Sites?
abstract: Immunotherapy is now advancing at remarkable pace for tumors located in various tissues, including the brain. Strategies launched decades ago, such as tumor antigen-specific therapeutic vaccines and adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are being complemented by molecular engineering approaches allowing the development of tumor-specific TCR transgenic and chimeric antigen receptor T cells. In addition, the spectacular results obtained in the last years with immune checkpoint inhibitors are transfiguring immunotherapy, these agents being used both as single molecules, but also in combination with other immunotherapeutic modalities. Implementation of these various strategies is ongoing for more and more malignancies, including tumors located in the brain, raising the question of the immunological particularities of this site. This may necessitate cautious selection of tumor antigens, minimizing the immunosuppressive environment and promoting efficient T cell trafficking to the tumor. Once these aspects are taken into account, we might efficiently design immunotherapy for patients suffering from tumors located in the brain, with beneficial clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dutoit
authors.affiliation: Oncology, Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Migliorini
authors.affiliation: Oncology, Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, Center of Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Walker
keywords: brain homing; brain tumors; glioma; tumor immunotherapy; tumor microenvironment