Therapeutic Potential of Thymoquinone in Glioblastoma Treatment: Targeting Major Gliomagenesis Signaling Pathways

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most devastating brain tumors with median survival of one year and presents unique challenges to therapy because of its aggressive behavior. Current treatment strategy involves surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy even though optimal management requires a multidisciplinary approach and knowledge of potential complications from both the disease and its treatment. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main bioactive component of Nigella sativa L., has exhibited anticancer effects in numerous preclinical studies. Due to its multitargeting nature, TQ interferes in a wide range of tumorigenic processes and counteract carcinogenesis, malignant growth, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis. TQ can specifically sensitize tumor cells towards conventional cancer treatments and minimize therapy-associated toxic effects in normal cells. Its potential to enter brain via nasal pathway due to volatile nature of TQ adds another advantage in overcoming blood-brain barrier. In this review, we summarized the potential role of TQ in different signaling pathways in GBM that have undergone treatment with standard therapeutic modalities or with TQ. Altogether, we suggest further comprehensive evaluation of TQ in preclinical and clinical level to delineate its implied utility as novel therapeutics to combat the challenges for the treatment of GBM.

Genetic secrets of long-term glioblastoma survivors

“…The study by Pećina-Šlaus et al indicated the increased expression of transcriptional factors TCF-1 and LEF-1 to be characteristic for malignant gliomas [23]. Other signaling pathways, including receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor A (PDGFRA), fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR-1), insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGFR-1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), MET, and Sonic hedgehog (SHH) are also altered in glioblastoma [24,25]. The reason for such genetic diversity in glioblastomas is not clear.…”

Effect of Compound Kushen Injection, a Natural Compound Mixture, and Its Identified Chemical Components on Migration and Invasion of Colon, Brain, and Breast Cancer Cell Lines

“…New approaches for enhancing cancer treatment by impairing cell migration and metastasis might offer promise for curing patients with malignancies. Combinations of anticancer therapeutic regimens that not only reduce cell proliferation but also limit metastasis would be advantageous (7–9).…”

Microbial Proteomics and Their Importance in Medical Microbiology

“…These proteins have potential as diagnostic, drug resistance, and invasiveness markers for glioblastoma tumors. Drug resistance is a major clinical problem in the treatment of many infectious diseases (Chowdhury et al, 2018;Hanif et al, 2017;Olar and Aldape, 2014). Proteomics shows solution for drug development against the resistance.…”