Inhibitor may turn tumor-protecting immune cells against glioblastoma

edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Add as preferred source MALT1 is expressed in TAMs in GBM. Credit: Nature Communications (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76572-7 Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a potential new approach to treating glioblastoma that could help the immune system fight the aggressive brain cancer while improving the effectiveness of existing chemotherapy.

The preclinical research , published in Nature Communications , found that inhibiting the enzymatic activity of a protein called MALT1 can reprogram immune cells surrounding glioblastomas, shifting them from a state that helps protect the cancer to one that promotes an antitumor immune response.