A glioblastoma diagnosis can be devastating. Currently, the 5-year survival rate is under 10%. This highly malignant cancer, which forms in the brain and spinal cord, is also somewhat difficult to treat. However, shares Medical XPress, new research from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis highlights how combining IL-7 to radiation therapy could improve overall survival. 

Interested in seeing the full study findings? Take a look at Clinical Cancer Research. 

The Research

Radiation, in conjunction with chemotherapy, is the current standard of care for many forms of cancer. This includes glioblastoma. However, this therapy could harm T-cells (or lymphocytes), which are immune cells that play a role in fighting foreign invaders. Prior research has found that those with glioblastoma often have low T-cell levels, as well as low interleukin 7 (IL-7) levels. Normally, IL-7 helps boost the immune system and improve T-cell levels. Thus, researchers hypothesized that treating glioblastoma with IL-7 could improve T-cell levels and overall survival.

To begin, researchers treated mice models of glioblastoma. The mice models were split into multiple groups. In the first group, the mice were treated with just the current standard of care. Alternately, the second group received IL-7 in addition to the standard-of-care. Additional groups included controls (no treatment), IL-7 as a monotherapy, radiation as a monotherapy, and IL-7 and radiation together. Findings included:

• The control group lived for the shortest period of time. IL-7 used as a monotherapy was the second shortest lifespan, followed by radiation alone. Radiation and IL-7 were shown to be effective.
• However, the longest survival was attributed to the combination therapy including IL-7, chemotherapy, and radiation. Mice treated with this combination lived for 45+ days, with some even living up to 90 days following treatment. 
• IL-7 improved T-cell levels in the tumor, microenvironment, and throughout the body. 

Altogether, researchers are still not sure how IL-7 could benefit human patients with glioblastoma. However, these findings highlight the need for further research. 

Glioblastoma

Approximately 20% of all brain tumors are glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the brain. Glioblastoma is considered an astrocytoma, or cancer that forms from astrocyte cells. These tumors are so aggressive due to their ability to make their own blood supply. Doctors are not sure exactly what causes glioblastoma. However, risk factors include being male, having pre-existing genetic disorders, or having had radiation. Symptoms include difficulty thinking or speaking; changes in mood or behavior; double or blurred vision; nausea and vomiting; seizures, or persistent headaches. Learn more about glioblastoma.