Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive cancers, with limited treatment options due to its highly immunosuppressive microenvironment and resistance to conventional therapies. γδ T cells, known for their potent antitumor activity and ability to recognize tumor antigens independently of HLA molecules, have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. This review explores the role of γδ T cells in glioblastoma, focusing on their functional plasticity, cytotoxic mechanisms, and interactions with components of the tumor microenvironment. We examine the factors that influence γδ T cell polarization toward pro- or anti-tumor phenotypes and analyze preclinical findings that support their application in GBM treatment. Furthermore, we discuss potential combinatory approaches—including immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokine stimulation, and adoptive cell transfer techniques—to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness and persistence of γδ T cells. Understanding the dynamics between GBM and γδ T cells may pave the way for innovative immunotherapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming immune evasion and improving clinical outcomes.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most aggressive cancers, with limited treatment options due to its immunosuppressive microenvironment. γδ T cells, known for their potent antitumor activity and ability to recognize tumor antigens independently of HLA molecules, have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. This review explores the role of γδ T cells in glioblastoma, focusing on their functional plasticity and potential to overcome immune evasion mechanisms. We also discuss potential combinatory approaches to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of γδ T cell-based strategies in GBM treatment.
Multiple myeloma (MM) develops through asymptomatic precursor stages characterized by progressive remodeling of the bone marrow (BM) immune microenvironment and disruption of bone homeostasis. To delineate changes in natural killer (NK) cell states during disease evolution, we investigated coordinated immune-tumor remodeling by integrating NK cell functional states with plasma cell-intrinsic susceptibility programs derived from CRISPR-based screens across healthy donors (HD), monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering MM (SMM), and newly diagnosed MM patients. The integration of NK cell state-associated gene signatures with plasma cell transcriptional programs revealed stage-specific co-variation between immune and tumor compartments. Public single-cell RNA sequencing datasets were interrogated to resolve NK cell heterogeneity, identifying cytotoxic CD56dim and regulatory CD56bright subsets. NK cell dynamics displayed stage-dependent changes, with early expansion followed by the contraction of CD56dim cells in BM, whereas CD56bright cells showed predominantly compositional remodeling. Within the CD56bright subset, transcriptional changes included an increased expression of KLRC1 (encoding NKG2A), subsequently validated by multiparametric flow cytometry. In parallel, plasma cell programs associated with NK sensitivity progressively decreased along disease stages, supporting tumor adaptation to immune pressure. The NKG2A ligand HLA-E displayed selective expression within CD16+ monocytes and followed a distinct variable pattern across disease stages, highlighting a microenvironmental contribution to NK cell regulation. Collectively, these findings indicate a coordinated process of immune-tumor co-evolution, characterized by dynamic remodeling of NK cell states and plasma cell susceptibility, with the NKG2A–HLA-E axis emerging as a central interface during MM progression.