No abstract

Interference with telomerase and telomere maintenance is emerging as an attractive target for anticancer therapies. Ligand-induced stabilization of G-quadruplex formation by the telomeric DNA 3′-overhang inhibits telomerase from catalyzing telomeric DNA synthesis and from capping telomeric ends, making these ligands good candidates for chemotherapeutic purposes. BRACO-19 is one of the most effective and specific ligand for telomeric G4. It is shown here that BRACO-19 suppresses proliferation and reduces telomerase activity in human glioblastoma cells, paralleled by the displacement of telomerase from nuclear to cytoplasm. Meanwhile, BRACO-19 triggers extensive DNA damage response at telomere, which may result from uncapping and disassembly of telomeric T-loop structure, characterized by the formation of anaphase bridge and telomere fusion, as well as the release of telomere-binding protein from telomere. The resulting dysfunctional telomere ultimately provokes p53 and p21-mediated cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and senescence. Notably, normal primary astrocytes do not respond to the treatment of BRACO-19, suggesting the agent's good selectivity for cancer cells. These results reinforce the notion that G-quadruplex binding compounds can act as broad inhibitors of telomere-related processes and have potential as selective antineoplastic drugs for various tumors including malignant gliomas.

Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive brain tumor in adults. The introduction of temozolomide (TMZ) has advanced chemotherapy for malignant gliomas, but it is not curative. The difficulties in treating glioblastoma may be as a result of the presence of glioma stem cells (GSCs), which are a source of relapse and chemoresistance. Another reason may be that endogenous Akt kinase activity may be activated in response to clinically relevant concentrations of TMZ. Akt activation is correlated with the increased tumorigenicity, invasiveness and stemness of cancer cells and overexpression of an active form of Akt increases glioma cell resistance to TMZ. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that cancer stem cells are preferentially sensitive to an inhibitor of Akt and down-regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway may enhance the cytotoxicity of TMZ. Metformin (MET), the first-line drug for treating diabetes, it has been proved that it reduces AKT activation and selectively kills cancer stem cells, but whether it can potentiate the cytotoxicity of TMZ for GSCs remains unknown. In the present study, the GSCs isolated from human glioma cell line U87 and Rat glioma cell line C6, in vitro treatment with TMZ either alone or with MET. The present study demonstrates that MET acts synergistically with TMZ in inhibiting GSCs proliferation and generating the highest apoptotic rates when compared to either drug alone. These findings implicate that GSCs cytotoxicity mediated by TMZ may be stimulated by MET, have a synergistic effect, but the definite mechanisms remain elusive.

AS1411 binds nucleolin (NCL) and is the first oligodeoxynucleotide aptamer to reach phase I and II clinical trials for the treatment of several cancers. However, the mechanisms by which AS1411 targets and kills glioma cells and tissues remain unclear. Here we report that AS1411 induces cell apoptosis and cycle arrest, and inhibits cell viability by up-regulation of p53 and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Akt1 in human glioma cells. NCL was overexpressed in both nucleus and cytoplasm in human glioma U87, U251 and SHG44 cells compared to normal human astrocytes (NHA). AS1411 bound NCL and inhibited the proliferation of glioma cells but not NHA, which was accompanied with up-regulation of p53 and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Akt1. Moreover, AS1411 treatment resulted in the G2/M cell cycle arrest in glioma cells, which was however abolished by overexpression of NCL. Further, AS1411 induced cell apoptosis, which was prevented by silencing of p53 and overexpression of Bcl-2. In addition, AS1411 inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells in an Akt1-dependent manner. Importantly, AS1411 inhibited the growth of glioma xenograft and prolonged the survival time of glioma tumor-bearing mice. These results revealed a promising treatment of glioma by oligodeoxynucleotide aptamer.

No abstract