Systemic and local immune responses to glioblastoma surgery help tailoring combinatory regimens

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM), an incurable primary brain tumor, typically requires surgical intervention followed by chemoradiation; however, recurrences remain fatal. Our previous work demonstrated that a nanomedicine hydrogel (GemC₁₂-LNC) delays recurrence when administered post-surgery. However, tumor debulking also triggers time-dependent immune reactions that promote recurrence at the resection cavity borders. We hypothesized that combining the hydrogel with an immunomodulatory drug could enhance therapeutic outcomes. A thorough characterization of the post-surgical microenvironment (SMe) is crucial to guide combinatorial approaches. In this study, we performed cellular resolution imaging and flow cytometry to characterize the SMe in a syngeneic mouse model of tumor resection. Owing to our dynamic approach, we observed transient opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) during the first week after surgery. BBB permeability post-surgery was also confirmed in GBM patients. In our murine model, we also observed changes in immune cell morphology and spatial location post-surgery over time in resected animals as well as the accumulation of reactive microglia and anti-inflammatory macrophages in recurrences compared to unresected tumors. Therefore we investigated whether starting a systemic treatment with the SMAC mimetic small molecule (GDC-0152) directly after surgery would be beneficial for enhancing microglial anti-tumoral activity and decreasing the number of anti-inflammatory macrophages around the GemC₁₂-LNC hydrogel-loaded tumor cavity. The efficacy of this combination therapeutic approach was confirmed by survival analysis and correlated with reversal of the immune profile as well as delayed tumor recurrence. This comprehensive study identified critical time frames and immune cellular targets within the SMe, aiding in the rational design of combination therapies to delay recurrence onset. Our findings suggest that post-surgical systemic injection of GDC-0152 in combination with GemC₁₂-LNC local treatment is a promising and innovative approach for managing GBM recurrence, with potential for future translation to human patient.