To understand a brain tumour, researchers do not look only at the brain. A study conducted in Luxembourg explores the immune cells circulating in the blood of people with glioblastoma. It seeks to characterise how their defences are altered, with the prospect of one day monitoring the disease more effectively.
The work by Scafidi, Kaoma, Cerella and their colleagues was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation on 16 July 2026, then presented by the LIH on 10 September. It is a research finding on cell profiles, not an announcement of a blood test available in routine practice.
Observing several dimensions of the same cell
The team combined cytometry methods, which characterise cells based on markers, with RNA sequencing at the level of individual cells. This second approach helps identify the biological programmes active in different groups of cells.
Patient samples were collected at the CHL as part of the PRECISION-PDX cohort. The publication specifies that they were taken before chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Samples from healthy donors serve as a comparison. The study is based at a single centre and has limited sample sizes, which matters when interpreting its scope.
Monocytes at the centre of the analysis
Among the cells studied, monocytes show particularly marked changes. These are immune cells whose states and functions can vary. The authors describe, in particular, lower expression of molecules in the MHC class II complex, which are involved in presenting antigens to other components of the immune system.
They also observe changes in inflammation-related programmes and differences between patients. The point, therefore, is not to label a cell as uniformly ‘bad’, but to understand a more complex organisation of the immune system in the presence of the disease.
The analyses link certain blood profiles to those of tumour-associated macrophages in public datasets. This comparison offers a hypothesis about their relationships; it does not amount to having filmed these cells travelling from the blood to the brain.
A biomarker still has to prove itself
A biomarker is a measurable characteristic that may provide information about a biological state. Identifying a signature in a research study is not enough to establish that it will give a reliable answer for every patient.
| Observation | Open question |
|---|---|
| Differences in immune profiles | Are they found in larger groups? |
| Associations with glioblastoma | Are they specific to this disease? |
| Leads from computer models | Which mechanisms are confirmed experimentally? |
The authors highlight limitations related to the size of the cohorts and the models used to reconstruct trajectories or interactions between cells. The LIH also says that the specificity of the signatures in relation to other cancers or neurological diseases remains to be explored.
The publication declares a patent application relating to biomarkers. This indicates a prospect of development; it proves neither the performance of a test nor its clinical authorisation. The current contribution is more precise: a map of immune changes and hypotheses to be tested in order to better understand glioblastoma.
Sources
- Scafidi, Kaoma, Cerella et al., Journal of Neuroinflammation 23, 306: scientific publication, 16 July 2026.
- LIH: presentation of the findings, 10 September 2026.
- Scientific publication under CC BY 4.0; original summary and explanations in French.
- Photograph: cottonbro studio.
- Pexels licence.
Sources consulted on 1 October 2026.
