Researchers from our Centre of Excellence at the University of Plymouth have, for the first time, revealed how the genetic makeup of meningioma – the most common type of brain tumour in adults – shapes the behaviour of immune cells, paving the way for more personalised and effective immunotherapy treatments.
Meningioma affects 2,790 people in England each year. While surgery and radiotherapy are often effective, some tumours are more aggressive or recur after treatment. Currently, there are no alternative therapies available for these patients.
Immunotherapy, which harnesses the body’s immune system to fight cancer, has shown promise in other tumour types. However, results for meningioma have been inconsistent. To understand why, Dr Ting Zhang and Professor Oliver Hanemann, Director of our Centre of Excellence, investigated how immune cells behave across different genetic subtypes of meningioma.
Using pioneering 3D models that closely mimic how immune cells interact with tumours, the team found clear differences in immune cells between more aggressive and less aggressive tumours. They showed that a specific immune cell type – known as an M2-like macrophage – is more prevalent in meningiomas with certain genetic mutations (such as NF2) or molecular profiles (like methylation class ben-1). These cells appear to accelerate tumour growth.
The researchers also discovered that the presence of M2-like macrophages is associated with higher levels of a molecule called IL-6, which is associated with tumour growth, particularly in lower-grade tumours. This positions both M2-like macrophages and IL-6 as promising targets for future therapies.
This research not only lays the foundation for new immunotherapy strategies but also offers a potential tool for clinicians to identify patients most likely to benefit—marking a critical step toward personalised treatment approaches for meningioma.
Dr Karen Noble, our Director of Research, Policy and Innovation said, “Research like this is vital if we are to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to treating meningioma. By understanding how these tumours interact with the immune system, we can begin to develop more personalised and effective therapies – offering new hope to patients where current treatments fall short.”
You can find out more here.
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