Research presented in these documents identifies the dura mater as a vital hub for regulating anti-tumor immunity within the central nervous system. Scientists developed a surgical technique called meningeal blood vessel blockage (MBB) to selectively restrict blood flow to the dura without harming the brain's internal tissues. This procedure successfully suppressed glioblastoma (GBM) growth by altering the balance of border-associated macrophages (BAMs), favoring a specific resident population with superior antigen-presenting capabilities. High levels of these specialized macrophages correlate with improved patient survival, suggesting they are critical for activating T cell responses against tumors. The study concludes that targeting dural circulation can enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy, offering a new surgical strategy for treating aggressive brain cancers.

References:

• Gao Y, Peng Y, Cheng J, et al. Meningeal blood vessel blockage enhances anti-glioblastoma immunity[J]. Cell, 2026.