CTIM-10. COMBINATION THERAPY OF STANDARD TREATMENT AND ACTIVATED AUTOLOGOUS LYMPHOCYTE THERAPY FOR HIGH-GRADE GLIOMAS

Abstract High-grade gliomas are highly refractory tumors, and achieving a cure remains challenging despite combined surgery, radiation therapy, and cytotoxic chemotherapy. Consequently, novel therapeutic strategies are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an immunologically enhanced treatment added to the standard therapy. Patients diagnosed with high-grade gliomas at a single institution underwent surgery followed by standard treatment (Stupp regimen) combined with activated autologous lymphocyte therapy. Efficacy was assessed based on progression-free survival (PFS) and the one-year survival rate, while safety was evaluated through the occurrence of treatment-related adverse events. Lymphocytes were collected via component apheresis after completing radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide treatment, cultured and expanded, and administered intravenously at four-week intervals during temozolomide maintenance therapy. Five patients were included, with an average age of 60.4 years. Lymphocyte therapy was administered an average of 5.4 times per patient. The median PFS was 13.3 months, and the one-year survival rate was 80%. In the patient who received six lymphocyte therapy cycles, the median overall survival was 27.2 months. No adverse events related to this therapy were observed. Although efficacy superior to standard therapy was not definitively demonstrated within the scope of this study, lymphocyte depletion associated with temozolomide use was successfully suppressed in all cases. While the safety of this treatment was confirmed in the limited sample size, the observational period was insufficient to fully evaluate efficacy. This study demonstrated the feasibility and safety of combining activated autologous lymphocyte therapy with standard treatment. The results suggest the potential for prolonged PFS via tumor immunity induction.