Immune Checkpoint Inhibition Therapies

Brain cancers such as medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, and oligodendroglioma remain difficult to treat, with many patients experiencing disease progression and lasting neurological side-effects despite surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibition has transformed outcomes in several cancers, yet its therapeutic potential in primary brain tumors remains poorly understood.

This project systematically investigates immune checkpoint expression and the potential of dual and triple checkpoint blockade across brain cancer types (e.g., medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, and oligodendroglioma). Using established cell lines, patient-derived tumoroid models, and primary patient tissues, we map checkpoint pathway activity and evaluate how combined inhibition can restore and amplify immune-mediated tumor killing — with the aim of identifying rational combination strategies for clinical translation.

Selected references

1. Dual targeting of CD155/TIGIT and PD-L1/PD-1 immune checkpoints potentiates NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in medulloblastoma. Neuro Oncology Advances 2025

2. Cellular immunotherapy for medulloblastoma. Neuro Oncology 2023