Blockade of the Checkpoint Inhibitor Pathways and Activated T-Cell Therapy in Brain Tumors

In less than a decade, we have seen a revolution in the fields of hematology and oncology with the advent of immunotherapy, specifically the use of checkpoint inhibitor therapies (anti-PDL, anti-PDL1, and anti-CTLA4). These checkpoint inhibitors have been proven to be a groundbreaking approach for advanced cancers previously thought to be resistant to all other forms of treatments. However, the clinical experience for primary brain tumors is minimal and not yet standard changing. We will review the preclinical data and clinical experience to date for the use of checkpoint inhibitors and novel lymphocytic (T cell) activating immunotherapies for primary brain tumors.