9/
🔗 check the preprint for more details!
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

8/
🙏 a special thanks to @abigailsuwala.bsky.social, @moritzgerstung.bsky.social, and Felix Sahm for their exceptional guidance and mentorship throughout this project. and heartfelt thanks to all our co-authors for valuable contributions and discussions!

7/
💭 together, these results highlight how tumour–immune cell interactions shape radiation-induced brain changes, distinct from true progression.

our work provides a molecular foundation to improve diagnostics and treatment in GB patients.

6/
in RN:

🔍 high numbers of tumour cells with low EGFR expression and no proliferation despite EGFR amplification.

🔍 the tumour cells colocalised with infiltrating border-associated macrophages releasing cytokines, likely contributing to gliosis.

5/
🧠 our key findings:

in recurrent GB, we found progenitor and proliferating tumour cells with high EGFR expression.

4/
🎨 we built a spatially resolved single cell atlas of ~1,19M cells encompassing nine cell types –– the first of its kind directly comparing histologically confirmed RN changes and recurrence in GB.

3/
🔦 we analysed 10 samples from 9 GB patients who all showed radiological progression. however, histopathology revealed:
🧠 4 true recurrences
🔬 4 RN changes
🖇️ 1 mixed case
we profiled these with 10x Xenium and the Brain Expression Panel.

2/
💡 why this matters?
radiotherapy is standard treatment for GB, but it can cause RN changes that mimic tumour progression on MRI and cause similar symptoms – yet require very different management. hence, histopathology remains the diagnostic gold standard.

🚨 new glioblastoma preprint alert!

we present the first spatially resolved single cell atlas comparing radionecrotic changes (RN) and recurrent IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (GB) –– shedding light on a long-standing diagnostic challenge.

🧵 1/