T cell immunity in glioma and potential implications for immunotherapy: a systematic review.

Abstract

Background: T cell-based immunotherapies have had limited success in glioma thus far. Here, we evaluate the literature on abundance, spatial distribution and phenotypical characteristics of T cells in the tumor micro-environment (TME) of IDH-mutant and IDH-wildtype glioma, with the aim to understand how these measures relate to immunotherapy resistance and to aid the development of immunotherapies for glioma.

Methods: Medline, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were systematically searched up to May 6th, 2025. Out of 4,303 articles screened, 85 studies examining T cell immunity in human glioma were selected. We collected information about tumor subtype, grade, methods, T cell abundance, spatial distribution, phenotypes and prognostic significance.

Results: T cells are present in the glioma TME, but at heterogeneous and generally low densities, especially in IDH-mutant glioma. T cell abundance increases with higher WHO grade and upon recurrence. T cells cluster around blood vessels, especially in IDH-mutant glioma. Glioma-infiltrating T cells largely display a late-differentiated phenotype (CD45RA-CCR7-C62L-), expressing markers that signify sustained antigen activation and exhaustion (PD-1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, LAG-3, CD39 and TIGIT). This phenotype coincides with decreased anti-tumor cytotoxicity and is spatially enriched in the myeloid-rich, hypoxic tumor core. Prognostic significance remains controversial.

Conclusions: T cells in glioma are scarce, generally fully differentiated and functionally inert. Understanding and reinvigorating the deficient T cell response will be essential for successful immunotherapies. Future research should incorporate functional and spatial immune profiling to optimize and personalize immunotherapeutic strategies for glioma patients.