Autophagic flux response and glioblastoma sensitivity to radiation

<b>Objective: </b> Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and one of the most lethal human tumors. It constitutes a unique non-metastasizing human tumor model with high resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The current study investigates the association betw...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Achilleas G. Mitrakas, Dimitra Kalamida, Alexandra Giatromanolaki, Stamatia Pouliliou, Avgi Tsolou, Rafail Kyranas, Michael I. Koukourakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: China Anti-Cancer Association 2018-09-01
Series:Cancer Biology & Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.cancerbiomed.org/index.php/cocr/article/view/1181
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Summary:<b>Objective: </b> Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumor in adults and one of the most lethal human tumors. It constitutes a unique non-metastasizing human tumor model with high resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The current study investigates the association between autophagic flux and glioblastoma cell resistance. <b>Methods: </b> The expression kinetics of autophagy- and lysosome-related proteins following exposure of two glioblastoma cell lines (T98 and U87) to clinically relevant radiation doses was examined. Then, the response of cells resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy was investigated after silencing of <i>LC3A</i>, <i>LC3B</i>, and <i>TFEB</i> genes <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. <b>Results: </b> Following irradiation with 4 Gy, the relatively radioresistant T98 cells exhibited enhanced autophagic flux. The more radiosensitive U87 cell line suffered a blockage of autophagic flux. Silencing of <i>LC3A</i>, <i>LC3B</i>, and <i>TFEB</i> genes <i>in vitro</i>, significantly sensitized cells to radiotherapy and temozolomide (U87: <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01 and &lt; 0.05, respectively; T98: <i>P</i> &lt; 0.01 and &lt; 0.01, respectively). Silencing of the LC3A gene sensitized mouse xenografts to radiation. <b>Conclusions: </b> Autophagy in cancer cells may be a key factor of radio-resistance and chemo-resistance in glioblastoma cells. Blocking autophagy may improve the efficacy of radiochemotherapy for glioblastoma patients.
ISSN:2095-3941
2095-3941