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In a preclinical study, researchers at The Wistar Institute in Pennsylvania found a combination that improved immunotherapy results in glioblastoma mouse models. They used low-dose axitinib to reduce oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) in tumors, which can cause immune cells called myeloid cells to suppress cancer-fighting T cells. They then added a treatment that activates a certain receptor on T cells to strengthen their ability to attack the tumor. The combination extended median survival in mice from 17 days in untreated controls to 42 days, and 40% of the mice survived long term. The surviving mice also showed evidence of lasting immune memory against the tumor. The findings suggest a potential new approach to overcoming immune suppression in GBM, but clinical trials are needed to determine whether the combination is safe and effective in humans.