The Transformative Potential of Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma Patients
Image source: Imvax, Inc.
This blog post is in collaboration with Imvax.
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain cancer, accounting for 50.9% of all primary malignant brain cancers. These tumors are diffuse, infiltrate the brain and grow rapidly, limiting treatment options. Its aggressiveness hinders the immune system's response. Learn more about the GBM survival rates on the blog by clicking here.
There are limited treatment options for newly diagnosed GBM, which traditionally involves surgical resection, adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, followed by maintenance chemotherapy. Recent immunotherapy breakthroughs have piqued researchers' curiosity, and clinical-stage biotechnology firms are moving the needle when it comes to treatment discoveries. Imvax is advancing individualized immunotherapies derived from whole tumors (Goldspire™ ). These treatments harness the complete antigen signature of each patient’s tumor to activate their natural and acquired immunity against residual tumors.
What is Immunotherapy?
There are various approaches to cancer immunotherapy. Some approaches begin by collecting a patient's tumor tissue through a biopsy or surgery. The tissue can then be analyzed to find the cancer cells' unique genetic and molecular characteristics, pinpointing specific proteins and mutations. Researchers use this profiling to identify antigens or markers on cancer cells, but not healthy cells, which become targets for the immune system.
In other approaches, immune cells, typically T cells, are isolated from the patient's blood or tumor. These T cells are multiplied in the lab and may be genetically engineered to express receptors targeting tumor antigens. Once prepared, these T cells are infused into the patient, specifically designed to look for and destroy cancer cells displaying the target antigens they recognize. These therapeutic T cells inside the patient's body initiate an immune response that can lead to cancer cell destruction and potential long-term remission.
Immunotherapy and Glioblastoma
Despite extensive research efforts, treatment remains highly limited. The urgency of advancing research is paramount, driving exploration into immunotherapies. Researchers are actively exploring new immunotherapy options to combat the fast spread of GBM cells and enhance patient outcomes.
Imvax focuses on leveraging the intricacies of solid tumors for treatment, exemplified by their promising IGV-001 therapy for newly diagnosed GBM. Imvax is developing its proprietary immunotherapy platform, Goldspire™, to facilitate personalized treatments for challenging solid tumors, including GBM. Goldspire™, designed to integrate into the standard of care, exposes the complete antigenic profile of a tumor to the patient’s immune system, potentially stimulating a broader anti-tumor response compared to single antigen-targeting therapies. This personalized immunotherapy is designed to activate innate and adaptive immune systems and may also be synergistic with other immunotherapies.
Using Imvax's Goldspire™ platform, the company is able to rapidly process GBM tumor tissue within 24 hours, allowing for implantation in a patient days after tumor resection surgery and removal 48 hours thereafter. This immunotherapy fits seamlessly into a patient's standard care for GBM, and such immediate immune system training complements traditional standard-of-care therapies.
Resources for Glioblastoma Patients
Imvax has completed a Phase 1b trial involving 33 patients that assessed IGV-001's safety, blood concentration, mechanism of action and dosages. The ongoing Phase 2b trial of IGV-001 aims to confirm safety and establish effectiveness, with the Phase 2b study involving 93 patients using IGV-001 or a placebo in the biodiffusion chambers after resection. Eligibility criteria, including general health and medications, will be assessed. Participants undergo tests, and surgery is scheduled with a treatment plan if eligible.
To learn more about its clinical trials, including the ongoing Phase 2b trial, visit the Imvax website, which offers comprehensive information for patients on the enrollment process and provides in-depth details about its platform and the Glioblastoma clinical trials.
The GBMRO & Imvax
As a corporate partner of the Glioblastoma Research Organization, Imvax demonstrates its commitment to advancing brain cancer research and supporting GBM patients and their families. The GBMRO is proud to partner with Imvax, recognizing research's vital role in understanding Glioblastoma and expanding treatment options for this deadly brain cancer.
The landscape of Glioblastoma treatment is evolving, with the emergence of immunotherapy as a promising area of research for potential GBM treatment. Traditional therapies, though invaluable, have inherent limitations in battling the aggressiveness of this devastating disease. Recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy, exemplified by Imvax's pioneering efforts, bring a renewed sense of optimism. To learn more about Imvax and its resources for the Glioblastoma community, please visit https://www.imvax.com/patients-families/#glioblastoma.
*The Glioblastoma Research Organization's informational material is not intended to be a substitute for medical professional advice or treatment for any specific health concerns, as the organization is neither a provider of medical care nor does research itself. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified healthcare provider.
Additional References
Immunotherapy: How the immune system fights cancer. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/immunotherapy-video
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, January 10). Glioma. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glioblastoma/treatment/txc-20350151
Gilbert, Dr. (n.d.). New immunotherapy study for glioblastoma. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/rare-brain-spine-tumor/blog/2021/glioblastoma-immunotherapy-study
Healthline Media. (n.d.). Glioblastoma: Survival rates, treatments, and causes. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/brain-tumor/glioblastoma
Andrews DW, Judy KD, Scott CB, Garcia S, Harshyne LA, Kenyon L, et al. Phase Ib Clinical Trial of IGV-001 for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 2021;27:1912-22. https://aacrjournals.org/clincancerres/article/27/7/1912/671878/Phase-Ib-Clinical-Trial-of-IGV-001-for-Patients
