MD Anderson Researchers Identify Synergistic One-Two Punch to Unmask Glioblastoma Invisibility Cloak and Sensitize Cold Brain Tumors to Immunotherapy

Researchers at MD Anderson find that blocking CD47 and CD24 signals together unmasks glioblastoma cells, allowing the immune system to attack deadly brain tumors.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 5:39 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Bypassing the Invisibility Cloak of Aggressive Brain Cancer

Glioblastoma remains one of the most challenging malignancies to treat because its tumor microenvironment is immunologically "cold," meaning it effectively hides from the body's natural defenses. While traditional immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of many cancers, it has largely failed to produce significant results in glioblastoma patients. New research from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, published in Nature Communications, suggests that this resistance is due to redundant "don't eat me" signals that cancer cells use to remain invisible. By simultaneously blocking two of these signals, researchers have successfully "unmasked" the tumor, allowing the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer with unprecedented efficiency.

The Critical Role of Macrophage First Responders

Macrophages serve as the immune system's primary surveillance team, responsible for identifying and engulfing cellular threats through a process called phagocytosis. Beyond their role as destroyers, they act as educators by presenting pieces of the destroyed tumor—known as antigens—to T cells, which then learn how to infiltrate the tumor mass. Dr. Wen Jiang, associate professor of Radiation Oncology, explains that cancer cells hijack protective proteins like CD47 to signal macrophages not to consume them. When these signals are active, the entire immune cascade is stalled, preventing T cells from ever receiving the necessary instructions to target the glioblastoma.

Identifying Redundant Defense Mechanisms in Solid Tumors

Previous clinical efforts focused on blocking the CD47 signal alone, but while this showed promise in bloodborne cancers, it proved insufficient for solid tumors like glioblastoma. The MD Anderson team discovered that glioblastoma cells utilize a second, redundant signal known as CD24 to evade detection. When only one pathway is blocked, the cancer simply relies on the other to maintain its "invisibility cloak." The study demonstrated that glioblastoma cells are highly adaptive, developing multiple strategies to bypass the innate immune system. This redundancy explains why single-target therapies have historically failed to eradicate aggressive solid brain tumors.