Immunotherapeutic strategies for malignant glioma.

BACKGROUND Despite advances in surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, only modest improvement has been achieved in the survival of patients with malignant gliomas. METHODS The authors review the immunologic aspects of gliomas, potential targets for therapy, and issues surrounding current immunotherapeutic strategies directed against malignant gliomas. RESULTS The blood-brain barrier and the purported immunological privilege of the brain are not necessarily insurmountable obstacles to effective immunotherapy for brain tumors. Preclinical studies suggest a number of potential therapeutic avenues. Translational studies offer the prospect of providing substantial new information about immunological trafficking in the nervous system and suggesting the most fruitful approaches to immunotherapy for malignant gliomas. CONCLUSIONS More effective adjuvant treatments for malignant gliomas are needed. The applicability of immunological approaches in the treatment of these tumors warrants continued study.