Publications by authors named "R Lukas"
Purpose: A glioblastoma (GBM) is a primary brain tumor with significant unmet therapeutic needs. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have marked therapeutic benefits in many different cancers but have yet to show benefit for most GBM patients in phase III trials.
Methods: A systematic review querying ClinicalTrials.
Importance: Molecular techniques, including next-generation sequencing, genomic copy number profiling, fusion transcript detection, and genomic DNA methylation arrays, are now indispensable tools for the workup of central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Yet there remains a great deal of heterogeneity in using such biomarker testing across institutions and hospital systems. This is in large part because there is a persistent reluctance among third-party payers to cover molecular testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImportance: Central nervous system (CNS) metastases presenting as either brain parenchymal metastases or leptomeningeal metastases are diagnosed in up to 50% of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer during their disease course. While historically associated with a poor prognosis due to limited treatment options, the availability of an increasing number of targeted therapies with good CNS penetration has significantly improved clinical outcomes for these patients. This has occurred in parallel with a more nuanced understanding of prognostic factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study highlights a shift in immunology focus from adaptive immune cells to the role of myeloid cells in tumors like glioblastoma, which lack T cells and are dominated by immunosuppressive cells.
- It discusses potential therapeutic strategies targeting myeloid-specific immune checkpoints, alongside some shared targets with adaptive immunity.
- By reviewing existing research on the effects of various immune checkpoint pathways, the authors aim to identify and prioritize new treatment options for glioblastoma.
Article Synopsis
- * New techniques like whole-transcriptome and single-cell sequencing identified a specific immune cell population, MG-Act, in certain pediatric gliomas, which express the TIM3 protein linked to inflammation and immune response.
- * Treating a mouse model of low-grade gliomas with anti-TIM3 significantly increased survival compared to standard treatments, suggesting that anti-TIM3 could be a promising option for clinical trials targeting pediatric MAPK-driven gliomas.