Immunotherapy for children and adults with malignant glioma, the Leuven experiences

Introduction: We developed active specific immunotherapy for children and adults with relapsed high grade glioma (HGG-IMMUNO-2003 cohort comparison study) and adults with primary diagnosis of GBM (HGG-2006 and HGG-2010 study). Methods: Upon resection, tumors were conserved sterile, dry and frozen at -80 °C for preparing the lysate with snap freeze/thaw cycles and subsequent 60 Gy irradiation. Dendritic cells (DC) were differentiated out of monocytes in the presence of GM-CSF/IL- 4. DCs were loaded with lysate (HGG-L) and matured with IL-1b/TNF-a. They were injected intradermally in imiquimod-prepared skin at wee…