Longevity & AgingHidden immune hubs in some brain tumors may signal longer survival in glioma patients
Gliomas, the most common adult brain tumors, are usually called immunologically 'cold' and respond poorly to immunotherapy. Researchers used spatial transcriptome and proteome profiling to examine tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), organized immune cell clusters, inside 642 gliomas. TLSs appeared in about 15% of tumors and were linked to remodeled perivascular space and shifts in extracellular matrix distribution. Three TLS subtypes emerged based on cell makeup and immune activity. None had classical germinal centers, but some showed signs of active immunity, including expanded T and B cell clones, IgA and IgG plasma cells, and dendritic cell-T cell interactions. Tumors with these active TLSs were associated with better overall survival. The findings suggest a functional adaptive immune response exists in a subset of gliomas, which could help guide patient stratification and treatment choices.
