bims-malgli Biomed News
on Biology of malignant gliomas
Issue of 2022–04–03
ten papers selected by
Oltea Sampetrean, Keio University
  1. The Subventricular Zone in Glioblastoma: Genesis, Maintenance, and Modeling.
  2. Cannabidiol inhibits RAD51 and sensitizes glioblastoma to temozolomide in multiple orthotopic tumor models.
  3. Class I HDAC overexpression promotes temozolomide resistance in glioma cells by regulating RAD18 expression.
  4. Tumor Treating Fields Suppression of Ciliogenesis Enhances Temozolomide Toxicity.
  5. Droplet digital PCR-based analyses for robust, rapid, and sensitive molecular diagnostics of gliomas.
  6. Venetoclax cooperates with ionizing radiation to attenuate Diffuse Midline Glioma tumor growth.
  7. Transcriptome-wide analysis of glioma stem cell specific m6A modifications in long-non-coding RNAs.
  8. HSP90 inhibition overcomes resistance to molecular targeted therapy in BRAFV600E mutant high-grade glioma.
  9. Clinical and radiological findings of glioblastomas harboring a BRAF V600E mutation.
  10. Patient-derived explants as tumor models.
  1. Front Oncol. 2022 ;12 790976
    The Subventricular Zone in Glioblastoma: Genesis, Maintenance, and Modeling.
    Jamison Beiriger, Ahmed Habib, Nicolina Jovanovich, Chowdari V Kodavali, Lincoln Edwards, Nduka Amankulor, Pascal O Zinn.
      Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant tumor with a median survival rate of 15-16 months with standard care; however, cases of successful treatment offer hope that an enhanced understanding of the pathology will improve the prognosis. The cell of origin in GBM remains controversial. Recent evidence has implicated stem cells as cells of origin in many cancers. Neural stem/precursor cells (NSCs) are being evaluated as potential initiators of GBM tumorigenesis. The NSCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) have demonstrated similar molecular profiles and share several distinctive characteristics to proliferative glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) in GBM. Genomic and proteomic studies comparing the SVZ and GBM support the hypothesis that the tumor cells and SVZ cells are related. Animal models corroborate this connection, demonstrating migratory patterns from the SVZ to the tumor. Along with laboratory and animal research, clinical studies have demonstrated improved progression-free survival in patients with GBM after radiation to the ipsilateral SVZ. Additionally, key genetic mutations in GBM for the most part carry regulatory roles in the SVZ as well. An exciting avenue towards SVZ modeling and determining its role in gliomagenesis in the human context is human brain organoids. Here we comprehensively discuss and review the role of the SVZ in GBM genesis, maintenance, and modeling.
    Keywords:  SVZ; glioblastoma; modeling; organoid; ventricular
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.790976
  2. Neurooncol Adv. 2022 Jan-Dec;4(1):4(1): vdac019
    Cannabidiol inhibits RAD51 and sensitizes glioblastoma to temozolomide in multiple orthotopic tumor models.
    Liliana Soroceanu, Eric Singer, Pratiksha Dighe, Max Sidorov, Chandani Limbad, Aida Rodriquez-Brotons, Peter Rix, Rinette W L Woo, Lawrence Dickinson, Pierre-Yves Desprez, Sean D McAllister.
       Background: Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid with a low toxicity profile, has been shown to produce antitumor activity across cancers in part through selective production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor cells. The alkylating agent, temozolomide (TMZ), is standard of care for treatment of glioblastoma (GBM). It can trigger increased ROS to induce DNA damage. It has also been reported that downregulating the expression of RAD51, an important DNA damage repair protein, leads to sensitization of GBM to TMZ.
    Methods: We determined the extent to which CBD enhanced the antitumor activity of TMZ in multiple orthotopic models of GBM. In addition, we investigated the potential for CBD to enhance the antitumor activity of TMZ through production of ROS and modulation of DNA repair pathways.
    Results: CBD enhanced the activity of TMZ in U87 MG and U251 GBM cell lines and in patient-derived primary GBM163 cells leading to stimulation of ROS, activation of the ROS sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and upregulation of the autophagy marker LC3A. CBD produced a sensitization of U87 and GBM163-derived intracranial (i.c.) tumors to TMZ and significantly increased survival of tumor-bearing mice. However, these effects were not observed in orthotopic models derived from GBM with intact methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) expression. We further demonstrate that CBD inhibited RAD51 expression in MGMT-methylated models of GBM, providing a potential mechanism for tumor sensitization to TMZ by CBD.
    Conclusion: These data support the potential therapeutic benefits of using CBD to enhance the antitumor activity of TMZ in GBM patients.
    Keywords:  cannabidiol; glioblastoma; patient-derived-xenograft; sensitization to temozolomide
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/noajnl/vdac019
  3. Cell Death Dis. 2022 Apr 01. 13(4): 293
    Class I HDAC overexpression promotes temozolomide resistance in glioma cells by regulating RAD18 expression.
    Daniela Hanisch, Andrea Krumm, Tamara Diehl, Carla M Stork, Mario Dejung, Falk Butter, Ella Kim, Walburgis Brenner, Gerhard Fritz, Thomas G Hofmann, Wynand P Roos.
      Overexpression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in cancer commonly causes resistance to genotoxic-based therapies. Here, we report on the novel mechanism whereby overexpressed class I HDACs increase the resistance of glioblastoma cells to the SN1 methylating agent temozolomide (TMZ). The chemotherapeutic TMZ triggers the activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) in resistant glioma cells, leading to DNA lesion bypass and cellular survival. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the catalytic activity of class I HDACs stimulates the expression of the E3 ubiquitin ligase RAD18. Furthermore, the data showed that RAD18 is part of the O6-methylguanine-induced DDR as TMZ induces the formation of RAD18 foci at sites of DNA damage. Downregulation of RAD18 by HDAC inhibition prevented glioma cells from activating the DDR upon TMZ exposure. Lastly, RAD18 or O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) overexpression abolished the sensitization effect of HDAC inhibition on TMZ-exposed glioma cells. Our study describes a mechanism whereby class I HDAC overexpression in glioma cells causes resistance to TMZ treatment. HDACs accomplish this by promoting the bypass of O6-methylguanine DNA lesions via enhancing RAD18 expression. It also provides a treatment option with HDAC inhibition to undermine this mechanism.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-04751-7
  4. Front Oncol. 2022 ;12 837589
    Tumor Treating Fields Suppression of Ciliogenesis Enhances Temozolomide Toxicity.
    Ping Shi, Jia Tian, Brittany S Ulm, Julianne C Mallinger, Habibeh Khoshbouei, Loic P Deleyrolle, Matthew R Sarkisian.
      Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are low-intensity, alternating intermediate-frequency (200 kHz) electrical fields that extend survival of glioblastoma patients receiving maintenance temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy. How TTFields exert efficacy on cancer over normal cells or interact with TMZ is unclear. Primary cilia are microtubule-based organelles triggered by extracellular ligands, mechanical and electrical field stimulation and are capable of promoting cancer growth and TMZ chemoresistance. We found in both low- and high-grade patient glioma cell lines that TTFields ablated cilia within 24 h. Halting TTFields treatment led to recovered frequencies of elongated cilia. Cilia on normal primary astrocytes, neurons, and multiciliated/ependymal cells were less affected by TTFields. The TTFields-mediated loss of glioma cilia was partially rescued by chloroquine pretreatment, suggesting the effect is in part due to autophagy activation. We also observed death of ciliated cells during TTFields by live imaging. Notably, TMZ and TTFields have opposing effects on glioma ciliogenesis. TMZ-induced stimulation of ciliogenesis in both adherent cells and gliomaspheres was blocked by TTFields. Surprisingly, the inhibitory effects of TTFields and TMZ on tumor cell recurrence are linked to the relative timing of TMZ exposure to TTFields and ARL13B+ cilia. Finally, TTFields disrupted cilia in patient tumors treated ex vivo. Our findings suggest that the efficacy of TTFields may depend on the degree of tumor ciliogenesis and relative timing of TMZ treatment.
    Keywords:  ARL13B; brain tumor; chemotherapy; cilium; electrical fields; treatment order
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.837589
  5. Acta Neuropathol Commun. 2022 Mar 31. 10(1): 42
    Droplet digital PCR-based analyses for robust, rapid, and sensitive molecular diagnostics of gliomas.
    Marietta Wolter, Jörg Felsberg, Bastian Malzkorn, Kerstin Kaulich, Guido Reifenberger.
      Classification of gliomas involves the combination of histological features with molecular biomarkers to establish an integrated histomolecular diagnosis. Here, we report on the application and validation of a set of molecular assays for glioma diagnostics based on digital PCR technology using the QX200™ Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR) system. The investigated ddPCR-based assays enable the detection of diagnostically relevant glioma-associated mutations in the IDH1, IDH2, H3-3A, BRAF, and PRKCA genes, as well as in the TERT promoter. In addition, ddPCR-based assays assessing diagnostically relevant copy number alterations were studied, including 1p/19q codeletion, gain of chromosome 7 and loss of chromosome 10 (+ 7/-10), EGFR amplification, duplication of the BRAF locus, and CDKN2A homozygous deletion. Results obtained by ddPCR were validated by other methods, including immunohistochemistry, Sanger sequencing, pyrosequencing, microsatellite analyses for loss of heterozygosity, as well as real-time PCR- or microarray-based copy number assays. Particular strengths of the ddPCR approach are (1) its high analytical sensitivity allowing for reliable detection of mutations even with low mutant allele frequencies, (2) its quantitative determination of mutant allele frequencies and copy number changes, and (3) its rapid generation of results within a single day. Thus, in line with other recent studies our findings support ddPCR analysis as a valuable approach for molecular glioma diagnostics in a fast, quantitative and highly sensitive manner.
    Keywords:  DNA copy number variation; Droplet digital PCR; Glioma; Molecular diagnostics; Mutation; Single nucleotide variation
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-022-01335-6
  6. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Mar 28. pii: clincanres.4002.2021. [Epub ahead of print]
    Venetoclax cooperates with ionizing radiation to attenuate Diffuse Midline Glioma tumor growth.
    Krishna Madhavan, Ilango Balakrishnan, Senthilnath Lakshmanachetty, Angela Pierce, Bridget Sanford, Susan Fosmire, Hanan B Elajaili, Faye Walker, Dong Wang, Eva S Nozik, Siddhartha S Mitra, Nathan A Dahl, Rajeev Vibhakar, Sujatha Venkataraman.
       PURPOSE: Tumor relapse after radiation therapy (RT) is a major hurdle in treating pediatric H3K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs). RT-induced stress increases association of BCL2 family of proteins with BH3 pro-apoptotic activators preventing apoptosis. We hypothesized that inhibition of RT-induced BCL2 with a clinically relevant inhibitor, venetoclax, will block BCL2 activity leading to increased apoptosis. BCL2 has never been implicated in DMG as a RT-induced resistant mechanism.
    EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We performed an integrated genomic analysis to determine genes responsible for radioresistance and a targeted drug screen to identify drugs that synergize with radiation in DMG. Effect of venetoclax on radiation-na�ve and 6Gy radiation on cells was evaluated by studying cell death, changes in BCL2 phosphorylation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis, as well as BCL2 association with BH3 apoptosis initiators. The efficacy of combining venetoclax with radiation was evaluated in vivo using orthotopic xenograft models.
    RESULTS: BCL2 was identified as a key regulator of tumor growth after radiation in DMGs. Radiation sensitizes DMGs to venetoclax treatment independent of p53 status. Venetoclax as a monotherapy was not cytotoxic to DMG cells. Post-radiation venetoclax treatment significantly increased cell death, reduced BCL2-BIM association and augmented mitochondrial ROS leading to increased apoptosis. Combining venetoclax with RT significantly enhanced the survival of mice with DMG tumors.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that venetoclax impedes the anti-apoptotic function of radiation-induced BCL2 in DMG leading to increased apoptosis. Results from these pre-clinical studies demonstrate the potential use of the BCL2 inhibitor, venetoclax, combined with RT for pediatric DMG.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-4002
  7. Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 31. 12(1): 5431
    Transcriptome-wide analysis of glioma stem cell specific m6A modifications in long-non-coding RNAs.
    Giedrius Steponaitis, Rytis Stakaitis, Indre Valiulyte, Raulas Krusnauskas, Rugile Dragunaite, Rūta Urbanavičiūtė, Arimantas Tamasauskas, Daina Skiriute.
      The interest in chemical RNA modifications is rapidly growing in the field of molecular biology. Dynamic and reversible alterations of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification are responsible for a platter of structural and functional changes in healthy and cancerous cell states. Although many studies reported the link between tumor initiation/progression and m6A modulators, there are few studies exploring transcriptome-wide m6A profile of non-coding RNAs. The aim of current study was to identify glioma stem cell (GSC) specific m6A landscape of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) applying MeRIP-seq approach. MeRIP-seq analysis assigned 77.9% of m6A peaks to mRNAs and 8.16% to lncRNAs. GSCs and differentiated cells showed 76.4% conservation of m6A peaks, while 19.4% were unique to GSCs. Seven novel GSC-specific m6A modified lncRNAs were identified: HRAT92, SLCO4A1-AS1, CEROX1, PVT1, AGAP2-AS1, MIAT, and novel lncRNA gene ENSG00000262223. Analysis disclosed a strong negative correlation between lncRNAs m6A modification rate and expression. MeRIP-seq analysis revealed m6A modifications on previously reported glioma-associated lncRNAs: LINC000461, HOTTIP, CRNDE, TUG1, and XIST. Moreover, current study disclosed that most highly m6A modified lncRNAs primarily contain m6A modifications close to 3' and 5' ends. Our results provide basis and insight for further studies of m6A modifications in non-coding transcriptome of GSCs.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08616-z
  8. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Mar 28. pii: clincanres.3622.2021. [Epub ahead of print]
    HSP90 inhibition overcomes resistance to molecular targeted therapy in BRAFV600E mutant high-grade glioma.
    Jo Sasame, Naoki Ikegaya, Masahito Kawazu, Manabu Natsumeda, Takahiro Hayashi, Masataka Isoda, Kaishi Satomi, Arata Tomiyama, Akito Oshima, Hirokuni Honma, Yohei Miyake, Katsuhiro Takabayashi, Taishi Nakamura, Toshihide Ueno, Yuko Matsushita, Hiromichi Iwashita, Yu Kanemaru, Hidetoshi Murata, Akihide Ryo, Keita Terashima, Shoji Yamanaka, Yukihiko Fujii, Hiroyuki Mano, Takashi Komori, Koichi Ichimura, Daniel P Cahill, Hiroaki Wakimoto, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Kensuke Tateishi.
       PURPOSE: Molecular targeted therapy using BRAF and/or MEK inhibitors has been applied to BRAFV600E mutant high-grade gliomas (HGGs); however, the therapeutic effect is limited by the emergence of drug resistance.
    EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We established multiple paired BRAFV600E mutant HGG patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models based on tissues collected prior to and at relapse after molecular targeted therapy. Using these models, we dissected treatment resistant mechanisms for molecular targeted therapy and explored therapeutic targets to overcome resistance in BRAFV600E HGG models in vitro and in vivo.
    RESULTS: We found that, despite causing no major genetic and epigenetic changes, BRAF and/or MEK inhibitor treatment deregulated multiple negative feedback mechanisms, which led to the re-activation of the MAPK pathway through c-Raf and AKT signaling. This altered oncogenic signaling primarily mediated resistance to molecular targeted therapy in BRAFV600E mutant HGG. To overcome this resistance mechanism, we performed a high-throughput drug screening to identify therapeutic agents that potently induce additive cytotoxicity with BRAF and MEK inhibitors. We discovered that HSP90 inhibition combined with BRAF/MEK inhibition coordinately deactivated the MAPK and AKT/mTOR pathways, and subsequently induced apoptosis via dephosphorylation of GSK3β (Ser9) and inhibition of Bcl-2 family proteins. This mediated potent cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo in refractory models with acquired resistance to molecular-targeted therapy.
    CONCLUSIONS: The combination of an HSP90 inhibitor with BRAF or MEK inhibitors can overcome the limitations of the current therapeutic strategies for BRAFV600E mutant HGG.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-3622
  9. Brain Tumor Pathol. 2022 Apr 01.
    Clinical and radiological findings of glioblastomas harboring a BRAF V600E mutation.
    Yukitomo Ishi, Shigeru Yamaguchi, Michinari Okamoto, Ryosuke Sawaya, Shogo Endo, Hiroaki Motegi, Shunsuke Terasaka, Zen-Ichi Tanei, Kanako C Hatanaka, Shinya Tanaka, Miki Fujimura.
      The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical and radiological characteristics of glioblastomas (GBMs) harboring a BRAF mutation. Sequencing analysis of BRAF, IDH1/2, and TERT promoters was performed on GBM samples of patients older than 15 years. The clinical, pathological, and radiological data of patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified into three groups according to their BRAF and IDH1/2 status: BRAF group, IDH group, and BRAF/IDH-wild-type (WT) group. Among 179 GBM cases, we identified nine cases with a BRAF mutation and nine with IDH mutation. The WT group had 161 cases. Age at onset in the BRAF group was significantly lower compared to the WT group and was similar to the IDH group. In cases with negative IDH1-R132H staining and age < 55 years, 15.2% were BRAF-mutant cases. Similar to the IDH group, overall survival of the BRAF group was significantly longer compared with the WT group. Among nine cases in the BRAF group, three cases had hemorrhagic onset and prior lesions were observed in two cases. In conclusion, age < 55 years, being IDH1-R132H negative, with hemorrhagic onset or the presence of prior lesions are factors that signal recommendation of BRAF analysis for adult GBM patients.
    Keywords:  BRAF V600E; Glioblastoma; IDH1/2; MRI
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10014-022-00432-7
  10. Cancer Cell. 2022 Mar 20. pii: S1535-6108(22)00119-2. [Epub ahead of print]
    Patient-derived explants as tumor models.
    Christopher G Hubert, Jeremy N Rich.
      Tumors contain heterogeneous neoplastic cells and diverse stromal elements that collectively function as dynamic ecosystems, and this complicates predictive modeling ex vivo. LeBlanc et al. utilize single-cell analysis to demonstrate that patient-derived explants replicate tumor cell diversity and transient stromal cell types in patient surgical specimens. This suggests that patient-derived explants can be valuable as tumor models.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2022.03.004
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