Blocking distinct interactions between Glioblastoma cells and their tissue microenvironment: A novel multi-targeted therapeutic approach

Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 3;8(1):5527. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-23592-z.

Abstract

Due to the highly invasive nature of Glioblastoma (GB), complete surgical resection is not feasible, while motile tumour cells are often associated with several specific brain structures that enhance treatment-resistance. Here, we investigate the therapeutic potential of Disulfiram and Carbenoxolone, that inhibit two distinct interactions between GB and the brain tissue microenvironment: stress-induced cell-matrix adhesion and gap junction mediated cell-cell communication, respectively. Increase in cell numbers of tumour-initiating cells, which are cultured in suspension as cell clusters, and adherent differentiated cells can be blocked to a similar extent by Carbenoxolone, as both cell populations form gap junctions, but the adherent differentiated cells are much more sensitive to Disulfiram treatment, which - via modulation of NF-κB signalling - interferes with cell-substrate adhesion. Interestingly, inducing adhesion in tumour-initiating cells without differentiating them does not sensitize for Disulfiram. Importantly, combining Disulfiram, Carbenoxolone and the standard chemotherapeutic drug Temozolomide reduces tumour size in an orthotopic mouse model. Isolating GB cells from their direct environment within the brain represents an important addition to current therapeutic approaches. The blockage of cellular interactions via the clinically relevant substances Disulfiram and Carbenoxolone, has distinct effects on different cell populations within a tumour, potentially reducing motility and/or resistance to apoptosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carbenoxolone / pharmacology*
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disulfiram / pharmacology*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Survival Rate
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase Inhibitors
  • Anti-Ulcer Agents
  • Carbenoxolone
  • Disulfiram