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Glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive brain tumor type in adults, remains difficult to treat because it can infiltrate surrounding brain tissue and spread far beyond the main tumor. Researchers from DZNE, University Hospital Bonn and the Cluster of Excellence “ImmunoSensation” at the University of Bonn have captured this infiltration process in the living brain with advanced microscopy. Their study is based on observations in mice affected by a brain cancer very similar to human glioblastoma
The results, published in the scientific journal “Immunity”, reveal complex and situation-dependent interactions between glioblastoma cells and the brain’s resident immune cells, also known as “microglia”. These cells patrol the brain in search of threats. The current findings suggest that microglia are not passive bystanders, but actively influence both the containment and the spread of the tumor.
The scientists observed these processes by means of so-called three-photon microscopy that employs infrared light. Focus was on the “far infiltration zone”, which designates a tissue region located several millimeters away from the primary tumor.
Changing behavior
Among other things, the team discovered that the behavior of microglia changed as a tumor spread. Specifically, microglia showed increased motility and surveillance activity when only a few glioblastoma cells were present. However, as tumor infiltration intensified, this immune response declined. Besides, the scientists investigated the effects of disabling a certain receptor that microglia use to sense their environment. Furthermore, they looked into pharmacological depletion, i.e., drastically reducing the number of immune cells.
“Our data shows that interactions between tumor cells and microglia play an important role in glioblastoma invasion,” says Dr. Felix Nebeling, first author of the current publication. “Targeting microglial function, potentially by drugs, may therefore represent a promising avenue for limiting tumor spread and improving patient outcomes.”
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About Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE (German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases): DZNE is one of the world’s leading research centers for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS, which are associated with dementia, movement disorders and other serious health impairments. These diseases place an enormous burden on patients and their families, but also on society and the economy of healthcare. DZNE contributes significantly to the development and translation into practice of novel strategies for prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment. DZNE comprises ten sites across Germany and collaborates with universities, university hospitals, research centers and other institutions in Germany and throughout the world. DZNE is state-funded and a member of the Helmholtz Association and of the German Centers for Health Research. https://www.dzne.de/en
Microglia-glioblastoma crosstalk mediates glioblastoma invasion at the far infiltration zone, Felix Nebeling et al., Immunity (2026), URL/DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2026.03.010
https://www.dzne.de/im-fokus/meldungen/2026/studie-zeigt-dynamische-wechselwirku... German version of this press release
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