Immune cells at the edge of glioblastoma and how they interact with tumor cells

Mapping Immune Contexture and Crosstalk with Tumor Cells At GBM Margin

NIH-funded research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11168958

This project sees if changing immune cells at the tumor edge can slow glioblastoma from invading nearby brain tissue and coming back in people with GBM.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11168958 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project maps the immune cells that gather at the edge of glioblastoma tumors and studies how they talk to tumor cells. Researchers will compare brain-resident microglia at the tumor margin to other tumor-associated myeloid cells and identify signals that make microglia support invasion. They will test blocking key pathways such as IL-1/IL1R1 and Plexin-B2 using patient tumor samples, lab models, and animal work to see if that reduces tumor spread. The team aims to find targets that could be developed into treatments to slow invasion and lower the chance of recurrence.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with glioblastoma (GBM), especially those undergoing surgery or with tumors near the resection margin, would be the most relevant candidates for related trials or tissue donation.

Not a fit: People without glioblastoma, or whose tumors do not rely on microglia-driven invasion, would not be expected to benefit directly from this work.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new treatments that slow tumor invasion and help delay or prevent glioblastoma recurrence.

How similar studies have performed: Early laboratory and animal work, including pilot studies targeting IL-1/IL1R1 or Plexin-B2, has reduced GBM growth and invasion, but clinical benefit in patients remains unproven.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Brain Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.