Two signalling pathways work together to make glioblastoma cells more susceptible to the immune system

Glioblastomas are highly aggressive brain tumours and are resistant to both conventional and targeted therapeutic interventions. Immune evasion is pronounced in glioblastomas, which complicates immunotherapy for most patients. Interferon-γ is a messenger substance used by immune cells to inhibit and kill cancer cells. Researchers led by Claudio Giachino from the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel now have evidence that the activity of the Notch signalling pathway makes certain subtypes of glioblastoma more sensitive to interferon. The Wilhelm Sander Foundation supported the project with approximately €165,000.