Scientists have identified a critical mechanism driving glioblastoma growth, discovering that the innate immune checkpoint protein CD47 plays a direct role inside tumor cells themselves. The research reveals that CD47 not only functions in immune evasion but actively helps glioblastoma cells grow and invade surrounding brain tissue.
The findings represent a significant advance in understanding glioblastoma biology, as CD47 was previously known primarily for its role in helping cancer cells evade immune system detection. This dual mechanism suggests that targeting CD47 could potentially address both immune evasion and direct tumor growth processes.