HAMILTON — Researchers at McMaster University developed a cancer immunotherapy strategy that targets glioblastoma cells and tumor-supporting macrophages simultaneously. The study was published in the journal Nature on July 1, 2026.

The research identified Glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) on both cancer cells and tumor-supporting macrophages. This therapy utilizes Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) technology to recognize GPNMB. Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer that can hijack macrophages, which helps the tumor grow, suppresses immune attacks, and resists treatment.

In pre-clinical models of glioblastoma, including those grown from human patient tumors, the therapy eliminated detectable tumors. The treatment also led to long-term disease-free survival in these pre-clinical models.

Sheila Singh, Professor of Surgery, stated, "Instead of treating the tumor as only a mass of cancer cells, we suggest that we must treat glioblastoma as a connected tumor-immune ecosystem." Singh added, "Our approach attacks both the tumor and the environment that allows it to thrive. We're going beyond targeting the cancer alone and eliminating the immune cells that help shield it from treatment."

Shan Grewal, an MD/PhD Candidate, said, "Most approaches have focused on killing cancer cells alone. Our work suggests we may also need to dismantle the immune support system that helps the tumor survive."

The study involved collaborators from King's College London, Northwestern University, the University of Calgary, the University of Toronto, and The Hospital for Sick Children. This research was supported by organizations including the Terry Fox Research Institute, Brain Canada, the Cancer Research Society, Brain Cancer Canada, and the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada.

This study expands on previous work in developing CAR-T therapies that target GPNMB. This earlier work included a first-in-human clinical trial for patients with metastatic sarcoma, led by researchers at the University of Calgary. Details of the sarcoma trial were published in the journal Nature Cancer.