Bifunctional cancer cell–based vaccine concomitantly drives direct tumor killing and antitumor immunity

Despite the extensive research conducted on cancer vaccines and related therapeutics, glioblastoma remains uncured. Treatment options fall into a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy in an effort to slow tumor growth. In a promising new study led by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, potential is seen in a new cell therapy that contributes to both the elimination of current tumors and prevention of tumor recurrence, seen in mouse models of glioblastoma. The new cell therapy repurposes live tumor cells with gene engineering, altering these cells to release dual cell-killing and immunomodulatory agents, capable of killing tumor cells and stimulating the immune system for further cancer prevention.