Saswatha Chandrasekaran

Changes in immune function with glioma grade

Started Dec. 15, 2023

Abstract or project description

Gliomas, a type of brain tumor originating in glial cells, present noteworthy challenges in treatment due to their heterogeneous nature and rapid progression. Immunotherapies that aim to eradicate cancer cells have shown no response in treating gliomas, necessitating further investigation. This study investigates the expression of 22 immune suppression and 10 immune activation genes across different grades of gliomas using the GlioVis database with the Adult TCGA_GBMLGG dataset. Through analysis, we have identified key immune suppression genes (FGL2, PDCD1, PDCD1LG2, CD276, LAG3) and immune activation genes (TNF, KLRK1) with varying mRNA expression levels across glioma grades. The results underscore the significance of these genes in glioma immunology and their potential as therapeutic targets. PDCD1 and LAG3 inhibitors, for instance, show promise in enhancing immune activation and reducing the risk of tumor resistance. This study underscores the need to further investigate how these genes influence glioma progression and their response to immune therapeutics. Through the elucidation of these pathways, we can better understand the complex interactions between the immune system and gliomas, paving the way for the development of more effective immunotherapeutic approaches, and ultimately ameliorating patient prognoses significantly.

Keywords: Glioma Immunotherapy, Immune Activation Genes, Immune Suppression Genes, Brain Tumor Immunology, PDCD1 and LAG3 Inhibitors, Tumor Microenvironment in Glioma, Gene Expression in Glioma Therapy