How IDH-mutant gliomas reshape the brain microenvironment

IDH-mutant gliomas are characterized by metabolic and epigenetic alterations, but the consequences of these changes extend beyond the malignant cell compartment. Our work investigates how IDH-mutant glioma cells interact with and reshape the surrounding brain microenvironment, with a particular focus on tumor-associated myeloid cells. I will discuss our studies characterizing the immune microenvironment in IDH-mutant gliomas and present ongoing work exploring candidate signaling interactions between glioma cells and tumor-associated macrophages. Together, these studies highlight the importance of reciprocal communication between malignant and non-malignant cells in shaping IDH-mutant glioma biology.

 

Şevin Turcan is Professor of Experimental Neuro-Oncology at the University of Bonn and University Hospital Bonn, where she leads a research group studying the epigenetic and microenvironmental biology of gliomas. Her research has focused extensively on the consequences of mutant IDH and the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate, including their effects on DNA methylation, chromatin regulation, cellular state, and tumor progression. Her laboratory combines genomic and epigenomic approaches with functional models, spatial profiling, and advanced imaging to understand how glioma cells interact with the surrounding brain and immune microenvironment and to identify new therapeutic vulnerabilities in brain tumors.