Elizabeth Bradshaw, PhD

Little is known about the immune response to meningiomas, even though a robust infiltration of a specific immune cell type, monocytic cells, has been described. Understanding the role of the infiltrating immune cells in meningiomas is critical for future applications of immunotherapy.

Little is known about the immune response to meningiomas, even though a robust infiltration of a specific immune cell type, monocytic cells, has been described. Understanding the role of the infiltrating immune cells in meningiomas is critical for future applications of immunotherapy.

Little is known about the immune response to meningiomas, even though a robust infiltration of a specific immune cell type, monocytic cells, has been described. Understanding the role of the infiltrating immune cells in meningiomas is critical for future applications of immunotherapy.

Little is known about the immune response to meningiomas, even though a robust infiltration of a specific immune cell type, monocytic cells, has been described. Understanding the role of the infiltrating immune cells in meningiomas is critical for future applications of immunotherapy.

Immune cells are highly adaptable to their environment and respond to signals from surrounding cells causing them to change how they appear and behave. Monocytic cells can either enhance orsuppress tumor growth, depending on the signals they receive from their environment. It is thought that the tumor cells themselves can influence the behavior of the monocytic cells, making them a potential therapeutic target.

Dr. Bradshaw and her team hypothesizes that the monocytic infiltrate in meningiomas is highly heterogeneous, and part of it is composed of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which potently prevent the immune system from attacking the tumor. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells themselves are very diverse in the markers that identify them and in how they suppress immune cells. This heterogeneity may reflect the heterogeneity of the various tumor types thatinduce them. The team will determine what sub-types of monocytic cells exist in meningioma, both pro- and anti-tumor, what role they are playing in suppressing the immune system from attacking the tumor and how the tumor cells control their behavior. Such findings could lead to novel strategies to modulate the immune system to enhance its effectiveness in managing tumor growth.