A Therapeutic Vaccine for the Most Aggressive Glioblastomas

Despite our best efforts at surgery and chemotherapy for patients with glioblastoma, survival time is often far too limited. One novel weapon in our arsenal could be a vaccine that bolsters the immune system in the body's fight against these tumors. As we move forward with research toward a vaccine, what are the keys to boosting its efficacy? How much additional time could a vaccine buy for our glioblastoma patients? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill probes these questions and more with Dr. Keith Black, professor of neurosurgery and chair of the department of neurosurgery, and director of the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Black also describes the fascinating process by which the research team collects tissue from each patient, which is subsequently applied toward the formation of a vaccine customized for the individual's condition.