αCT1 Peptide Sensitizes Glioma Cells to Temozolomide in a Glioblastoma
Organoid Platform
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common form of brain cancer. Even with
aggressive treatment, tumor recurrence is almost universal and patient
prognosis is poor because many GBM cell subpopulations, especially the
mesenchymal and glioma stem cell populations, are resistant to
temozolomide (TMZ) the most commonly used chemotherapeutic in GBM. For
this reason, there is an urgent need for the development of new
therapies that can more effectively treat GBM. Several recent studies
have indicated that high expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in GBM is
associated with poor patient outcomes. It has been hypothesized that
inhibition of the Cx43 hemichannels could prevent TMZ efflux and
sensitize otherwise resistance cells to the treatment. In this study, we
use a 3-dimensional organoid model of GBM to demonstrate that
combinatorial treatment with TMZ and αCT1, a Cx43 mimetic peptide,
significantly improves treatment efficacy in certain populations of GBM.
Confocal imaging was used to analyze changes in Cx43 expression in
response to combinatorial treatment. These results indicate that Cx43
inhibition should be pursued further as an improved treatment for GBM.