McMaster University researchers develop dual-target CAR-T therapy for glioblastoma

Researchers at McMaster University have developed a new therapeutic approach for treating glioblastoma. The method uses a specialized CAR-T cell therapy to simultaneously attack brain tumors and the immune cells that support their growth. The findings were published in the journal Nature on July 1.

The therapy works by targeting a protein called GPNMB. This protein is present on glioblastoma cells, but it is also found on macrophages, which are immune cells the tumor relies on to survive. By seeking out this specific protein, the therapy creates a dual-front assault on the cancer and the microenvironment that sustains it.

Dr. Sheila Singh led the preclinical research. In models tested during the study, the GPNMB-specific CAR-T cells successfully eliminated detectable tumors. The treatment also led to long-term disease-free survival in these models, indicating a significant breakthrough in managing this aggressive form of brain cancer.

Alongside the glioblastoma study, McMaster researchers are developing separate treatments to prevent other cancers from spreading to the brain. These new drug candidates target the enzyme IMPDH2. Lung, breast, and skin cancers rely heavily on this enzyme to metastasize into brain tissue.

Both therapeutic approaches remain in the pre-clinical stage. The research team notes that the drug candidates designed to prevent metastatic brain cancer require further testing and clinical trials, with a timeline for potential availability ranging from five to ten years.