Giuseppe Stragliotto
Sweden
Review Article
Are Viral Epitopes Potential Targets for Effective Glioblastoma Immunotherapy
Author(s): Vanessa Wilhelmi, Giuseppe Stragliotto, Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér and Natalia LandázuriVanessa Wilhelmi, Giuseppe Stragliotto, Cecilia Söderberg-Nauclér and Natalia Landázuri
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an extremely aggressive tumor with a very dismal prognosis. Although extensive efforts have been made to identify new treatment options for these patients to improve their quality of life and survival, the results are not encouraging. The patients are left in a grim situation with a short life expectancy. During the past decade, several groups have demonstrated that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) nucleic acids and proteins can be detected in GBM tumors, while healthy brain surrounding the tumors remains negative for this virus. While a currently ongoing debate argues for or against the presence of HCMV in GBM, DC vaccinations with GBM tumor lysates have been shown to trigger an HCMV-specific immune response in patients. Moreover, HCMVspecific autologous T cells have proven capable of killing GBM cells. These observations provide immunological evidence th.. View More»
DOI:
10.4172/2157-2518.1000214