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Qoorchi Moheb Seraj F, Heravi-Faz N, Soltani A, Ahmadi SS, Shahbeiki F, Talebpour A, Afshari AR, Ferns GA, Bahrami A. Thymol has anticancer effects in U-87 human malignant glioblastoma cells. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:9623-9632. [PMID: 35997850 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07867-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thymol (2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol) is a colorless crystalline derivative of cymene, that possesses pleotropic pharmacological properties, including analgesic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Thymol has also been recognized for its beneficial effect as an anti-tumor agent, but the precise mechanism for this has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to identifying whether thymol exerts anti-cancer activity in human U-87 malignant glioblastoma (GB) cells (U-87). METHODS AND RESULTS Cell viability and apoptosis was evaluated in U-87 cells treated with thymol at different concentrations. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related genes and cell cycle characteristics were assessed. The cytotoxic activity of the co-exposure of thymol and temozolomide (TMZ) was also evaluated. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of thymol in the U-87 cells was 230 μM assessed at 24 h after exposure. Thymol did not exhibit any cytotoxic effects on normal L929 cells at this concentration. Thymol treatment increased the expression of Bax and p53, and also increased apoptotic cell death, and excessive generation of ROS. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of thymol on the U-87 cells may be related to the arrest of the cell cycle at the G0/G1 interface. Combination therapy showed that the cytotoxic effects of thymol synergized with TMZ, and combined treatment had more cytotoxic potential compared to either of the agents alone. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate the potential cytotoxic activities of thymol on U-87 cells. Further studies are required to evaluate the spectrum of the antitumor activity of thymol on GB cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farid Qoorchi Moheb Seraj
- Endovascular Section, Neurosurgical Department, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Niloofar Heravi-Faz
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, Neyshabour branch, Islamic Azad University, Neyshabour, Iran
| | - Arash Soltani
- Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyed Sajad Ahmadi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Khatam Ol-Anbia Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Shahbeiki
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Mashhad branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amir Talebpour
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Amir R Afshari
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Division of Medical Education, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9PH, Sussex, UK
| | - Afsane Bahrami
- Clinical Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. .,Clinical Research Development Unit of Akbar Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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The new era of bio-molecular imaging with O-(2-18F-fluoroethyl)-L-tyrosine (18F-FET) in neurosurgery of gliomas. Clin Transl Imaging 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40336-022-00509-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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3
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Pinho MP, Lepski GA, Rehder R, Chauca-Torres NE, Evangelista GCM, Teixeira SF, Flatow EA, de Oliveira JV, Fogolin CS, Peres N, Arévalo A, Alves V, Barbuto JAM, Bergami-Santos PC. Near-Complete Remission of Glioblastoma in a Patient Treated with an Allogenic Dendritic Cell-Based Vaccine: The Role of Tumor-Specific CD4+T-Cell Cytokine Secretion Pattern in Predicting Response and Recurrence. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5396. [PMID: 35628206 PMCID: PMC9141410 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has brought hope to the fight against glioblastoma, but its efficacy remains unclear. We present the case of CST, a 25-year-old female patient with a large right-hemisphere glioblastoma treated with a dendritic-tumor cell fusion vaccine. CST showed a near-complete tumor response, with a marked improvement in her functional status and simultaneous increases in tumor-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Two months before recurrence, the frequency of tumor-specific T cells decreased, while that of IL-17 and CD4+ T cells increased. CST passed away 15 months after enrollment. In this illustrative case, the tumor-specific CD4+ T-cell numbers and phenotype behaved as treatment efficacy biomarkers, highlighting the key role of the latter in glioblastoma immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana P. Pinho
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
| | - Guilherme A. Lepski
- Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, LIM26, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil; (G.A.L.); (A.A.)
- Department of Neurosurgery, Eberhard-Karls University, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | - Nadia E. Chauca-Torres
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
| | - Gabriela C. M. Evangelista
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
| | - Sarah F. Teixeira
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
| | - Elizabeth A. Flatow
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
| | - Jaqueline V. de Oliveira
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
| | - Carla S. Fogolin
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
| | - Nataly Peres
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Surgery (LIM-26), Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Analía Arévalo
- Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, LIM26, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil; (G.A.L.); (A.A.)
| | - Venâncio Alves
- Department of Pathology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 01246-903, Brazil;
| | - José A. M. Barbuto
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy in Onco-Immuno-Hematology (LIM-31), Department of Hematology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Patricia C. Bergami-Santos
- Department of Immunology, Instituto de Ciencias Biomedicas, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (M.P.P.); (N.E.C.-T.); (G.C.M.E.); (S.F.T.); (E.A.F.); (J.V.d.O.); (C.S.F.); (N.P.)
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Targeting Glioblastoma via Selective Alteration of Mitochondrial Redox State. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030485. [PMID: 35158753 PMCID: PMC8833725 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Glioblastoma is characterized by a pronounced redox imbalance due to elevated glycolytic and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. New therapeutic strategies have been developed to modulate glioblastoma redox signaling to effectively suppress growth and prolong survival. However, drug selectivity and therapeutic relapse prove to be the major challenges. We describe a pharmacological strategy for the selective targeting and treatment of glioblastoma using the redox active combination drug menadione/ascorbate, which is characterized by tolerance to normal cells and tissues. Menadione/ascorbate treatment of glioblastoma mice suppressed tumor growth and significantly increased survival without adverse side effects. This is accompanied by increased oxidative stress, decreased reducing capacity and decreased cellular density in the tumor alone, as well as increased brain perfusion and decreased regulation of several oncoproteins and oncometabolites, which implies modulation of the immune response and reduced drug resistance. We believe that this therapeutic strategy is feasible and promising and deserves the attention of clinicians. Abstract Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive brain tumors, characterized by a pronounced redox imbalance, expressed in a high oxidative capacity of cancer cells due to their elevated glycolytic and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. The assessment and modulation of the redox state of glioblastoma are crucial factors that can provide highly specific targeting and treatment. Our study describes a pharmacological strategy for targeting glioblastoma using a redox-active combination drug. The experiments were conducted in vivo on glioblastoma mice (intracranial model) and in vitro on cell lines (cancer and normal) treated with the redox cycling pair menadione/ascorbate (M/A). The following parameters were analyzed in vivo using MRI or ex vivo on tissue and blood specimens: tumor growth, survival, cerebral perfusion, cellular density, tissue redox state, expression of tumor-associated NADH oxidase (tNOX) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). Dose-dependent effects of M/A on cell viability, mitochondrial functionality, and redox homeostasis were evaluated in vitro. M/A treatment suppressed tumor growth and significantly increased survival without adverse side effects. This was accompanied by increased oxidative stress, decreased reducing capacity, and decreased cellular density in the tumor only, as well as increased cerebral perfusion and down-regulation of tNOX and TGF-β1. M/A induced selective cytotoxicity and overproduction of mitochondrial superoxide in isolated glioblastoma cells, but not in normal microglial cells. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the over-reduced state of cancer cells and impairment of their “pro-oncogenic” functionality, assessed by dose-dependent decreases in: NADH, NAD+, succinate, glutathione, cellular reducing capacity, mitochondrial potential, steady-state ATP, and tNOX expression. The safety of M/A on normal cells was compromised by treatment with cerivastatin, a non-specific prenyltransferase inhibitor. In conclusion, M/A differentiates glioblastoma cells and tissues from normal cells and tissues by redox targeting, causing severe oxidative stress only in the tumor. The mechanism is complex and most likely involves prenylation of menadione in normal cells, but not in cancer cells, modulation of the immune response, a decrease in drug resistance, and a potential role in sensitizing glioblastoma to conventional chemotherapy.
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Chowdhury S, Bappy MH, Clocchiatti-Tuozzo S, Cheeti S, Chowdhury S, Patel V. Current Advances in Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme and Future Prospects. Cureus 2021; 13:e20604. [PMID: 35103180 PMCID: PMC8782638 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most frequent and malignant type of brain tumor. It has a reputation for being resistant to current treatments, and the prognosis is still bleak. Immunotherapies have transformed the treatment of a variety of cancers, and they provide great hope for glioblastoma, although they have yet to be successful. The justification for immune targeting of glioblastoma and the obstacles that come with treating these immunosuppressive tumors are reviewed in this paper. Cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses (OVs), checkpoint blockade medications, adoptive cell transfer (ACT), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, and nanomedicine-based immunotherapies are among the novel immune-targeting therapies researched in glioblastoma. Key clinical trial outcomes and current trials for each method are presented from a clinical standpoint. Finally, constraints, whether biological or due to trial design, are discussed, along with solutions for overcoming them. In glioblastoma, proof of efficacy for immunotherapy approaches has yet to be demonstrated, but our rapidly growing understanding of the disease’s biology and immune microenvironment, as well as the emergence of novel promising combinatorial approaches, may allow researchers to finally meet the medical need for patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
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