Tumours of the central nervous system are a leading cause of cancer-related death in children and young adults. A promising approach for treating these tumours is immunotherapy. This approach is based on the fact that tumour cells often express abnormal molecules that can potentially be recognized by the immune system as dangerous or foreign. In reality, however, the immune system generally fails to mount an attack against tumour cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that tumour cells neutralize anti-tumour immune responses by secreting immunosuppressive molecules. Our general goal is to identify such molecules in glioblastomas, the most frequent and malignant brain tumours. For the next two years, we will examine the role of a cytokine known as macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the development of glioblastomas. By clarifying how brain tumour cells evade immune surveillance, this project will assist the design of effective immunotherapy protocols for cancer.