Tetra-O-methyl nordihydroguaiaretic acid, an inhibitor of Sp1-mediated survivin transcription, induces apoptosis and acts synergistically with chemo-radiotherapy in glioblastoma cells

• Published in: Investigational new drugs 2013-08, Vol.31 (4), p.858-870
• Main Authors: Castro-Gamero, Angel Mauricio, Borges, Kleiton Silva, Moreno, Daniel Antunes, Suazo, Veridiana Kill, Fujinami, Mayara Missono, de Paula Gomes Queiroz, Rosane, de Oliveira, Harley Francisco, Carlotti, Carlos Gilberto, Scrideli, Carlos Alberto, Tone, Luiz Gonzaga
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Adult; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - radiation effects; Biological and medical sciences; Brain cancer; Brain Neoplasms - drug therapy; Brain Neoplasms - genetics; Brain Neoplasms - pathology; Brain Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Cancer; Cancer therapies; Cell culture; Cell cycle; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell division; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - radiation effects; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Dacarbazine - analogs & derivatives; Dacarbazine - pharmacology; Dacarbazine - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug dosages; Drug Synergism; Drug therapy; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - radiation effects; General aspects; Glioblastoma - drug therapy; Glioblastoma - genetics; Glioblastoma - pathology; Glioblastoma - radiotherapy; Glioma; Humans; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins - genetics; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins - metabolism; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Kinases; Male; Masoprocol - analogs & derivatives; Masoprocol - pharmacology; Masoprocol - therapeutic use; Medical prognosis; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mitotic Index; Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects); Neurology; Oncology; Pediatrics; Pharmaceutical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Preclinical Studies; Radiation therapy; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents - pharmacology; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents - therapeutic use; RNA Splicing - genetics; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Sp1 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Studies; Surgery; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; Tumors; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses
• ISSN: 0167-6997; 1573-0646
• DOI: 10.1007/s10637-012-9917-4

Summary Glioblastoma (GBM), one of the most malignant human neoplasias, responds poorly to current treatment modalities, with temozolomide (TMZ) being the drug most frequently used for its treatment. Tetra-O-methyl Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (M4N) is a global transcriptional repressor of genes dependent on the Sp1 transcription factor, such as Survivin and Cdk1 . In the present study we evaluated the gene expression of Survivin , its spliced variants and Cdk1 in GBM samples and cell lines. Moreover, we investigated the effects of M4N combined or not with TMZ and/or radiation on GBM primary cultures and cell lines. qRT-PCR assays were performed to determine the Survivin -spliced variants and Cdk1 gene mRNA expression in GBM tumor samples and cell lines. Cell proliferation was measured by XTT assay and cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. Drug combination analyses using different schedules of administration (simultaneous and sequential) were performed on GBM cell lines and primary cultures based on the Chou-Talalay method. For clonogenic survival, doses of 2, 4, and 6 Gy of gamma radiation. were used. All Survivin -spliced variants and the Cdk1 gene were expressed in GBM samples ( n  = 16) and cell lines ( n  = 6), except the Survivin-2B variant that was only expressed in GBM cell lines. M4N treatment down regulated the expression of Cdk1 , Survivin and the Survivin-ΔEx3 variant, while the Survivin-2B variant was up-regulated. M4N decreased the cell proliferation separately and synergistically with TMZ, and enhanced the effects of radiation, mainly when associated with TMZ. M4N also induced apoptotic cell death, decreased the mitotic index and arrested the cell cycle mainly in the G2/M phase. Our results suggest a potential clinical application of M4N in combination with TMZ and radiation for GB treatment.