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Tsai HC, Wei KC, Chen PY, Huang CY, Chen KT, Lin YJ, Cheng HW, Chen YR, Wang HT. Valproic Acid Enhanced Temozolomide-Induced Anticancer Activity in Human Glioma Through the p53-PUMA Apoptosis Pathway. Front Oncol 2021; 11:722754. [PMID: 34660288 PMCID: PMC8518553 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.722754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal type of brain tumor in adults, has considerable cellular heterogeneity. The standard adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent for GBM, temozolomide (TMZ), has a modest response rate due to the development of drug resistance. Multiple studies have shown that valproic acid (VPA) can enhance GBM tumor control and prolong survival when given in conjunction with TMZ. However, the beneficial effect is variable. In this study, we analyzed the impact of VPA on GBM patient survival and its possible correlation with TMZ treatment and p53 gene mutation. In addition, the molecular mechanisms of TMZ in combination with VPA were examined using both p53 wild-type and p53 mutant human GBM cell lines. Our analysis of clinical data indicates that the survival benefit of a combined TMZ and VPA treatment in GBM patients is dependent on their p53 gene status. In cellular experiments, our results show that VPA enhanced the antineoplastic effect of TMZ by enhancing p53 activation and promoting the expression of its downstream pro-apoptotic protein, PUMA. Our study indicates that GBM patients with wild-type p53 may benefit from a combined TMZ+VPA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Chieh Tsai
- Department of Neurosurgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Chen Wei
- Department of Neurosurgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Neurosurgery, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Research Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Yuan Chen
- School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Yin Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Research Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ko-Ting Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Research Center, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Jui Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Wei Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Rou Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Tsui Wang
- Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Food Safety and Health Risk Assessment, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Doctor Degree Program in Toxicology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Epigenetic-Based Therapy-A Prospective Chance for Medulloblastoma Patients' Recovery. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094925. [PMID: 34066495 PMCID: PMC8124462 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is one of the most frequent and malignant brain tumors in children. The prognosis depends on the advancement of the disease and the patient's age. Current therapies, which include surgery, chemotherapy, and irradiation, despite being quite effective, cause significant side effects that influence the central nervous system's function and cause neurocognitive deficits. Therefore, they substantially lower the quality of life, which is especially severe in a developing organism. Thus, there is a need for new therapies that are less toxic and even more effective. Recently, knowledge about the epigenetic mechanisms that are responsible for medulloblastoma development has increased. Epigenetics is a phenomenon that influences gene expression but can be easily modified by external factors. The best known epigenetic mechanisms are histone modifications, DNA methylation, or noncoding RNAs actions. Epigenetic mechanisms comprehensively explain the complex phenomena of carcinogenesis. At the same time, they seem to be a potential key to treating medulloblastoma with fewer complications than past therapies. This review presents the currently known epigenetic mechanisms that are involved in medulloblastoma pathogenesis and the potential therapies that use epigenetic traits to cure medulloblastoma while maintaining a good quality of life and ensuring a higher median overall survival rate.
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Drug Repurposing in Medulloblastoma: Challenges and Recommendations. Curr Treat Options Oncol 2020; 22:6. [PMID: 33245404 DOI: 10.1007/s11864-020-00805-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Medulloblastoma is the most frequently diagnosed primary malignant brain tumor among children. Currently available therapeutic strategies are based on surgical resection, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. However, majority of patients quickly develop therapeutic resistance and are often left with long-term therapy-related side effects and sequelae. Therefore, there remains a dire need to develop more effective therapeutics to overcome the acquired resistance to currently available therapies. Unfortunately, the process of developing novel anti-neoplastic drugs from bench to bedside is highly time-consuming and very expensive. A wide range of drugs that are already in clinical use for treating non-cancerous diseases might commonly target tumor-associated signaling pathways as well and hence be of interest in treating different cancers. This is referred to as drug repurposing or repositioning. In medulloblastoma, drug repurposing has recently gained a remarkable interest as an alternative therapy to overcome therapy resistance, wherein existing non-tumor drugs are being tested for their potential anti-neoplastic effects outside the scope of their original use.
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