Clinical Impact of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Glioblastoma: Systematic Review of Therapeutic Approaches and Results

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.159491241410949

• Palavras-chave: Glioblastoma multiforme, immunotherapy, CAR-T cells

• Keywords: Glioblastoma multiforme, immunotherapy, CAR-T cells

• Abstract:

  Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with a median survival of only 15 months, even with conventional treatment that includes surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach to treating tumors, including GBM, with the possibility of targeting the immune system to fight tumor cells. This systematic review aims to evaluate clinical trials that have investigated the use of immunotherapies in the treatment of GBM, focusing on three main aspects: safety profile, adverse effects and tolerability, especially in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Six clinical trials published between 2019 and 2024 were selected, totaling 6,215 patients. Therapeutic approaches ranged from dendritic cells, CAR-T cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors and personalized vaccines. The results indicated that immunotherapies have an acceptable safety profile, with manageable adverse effects such as fatigue, fever and, in some cases, cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, especially in CAR-T therapies. Treatment tolerability was high, with most patients managing to complete the therapeutic protocols without significant interruptions. However, the efficacy of these therapies still faces limitations, such as tumour heterogeneity and immune evasion, highlighting the need for new studies exploring the personalization of treatments and the use of specific biomarkers. We conclude that immunotherapies represent a significant advance in the treatment of GBM, but more controlled, long-term clinical trials are needed to conclusively validate their efficacy and safety.