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Query: UMLS:C0017638 (
glioma
)
30,880
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
The tyrosine kinase receptor c-Met and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) are frequently overexpressed and the tumor suppressor PTEN is often mutated in glioblastoma. Because PTEN can interact with c-Met-dependent signaling, we studied the effects of PTEN on c-Met-induced malignancy and associated molecular events and assessed the potential therapeutic value of combining PTEN restoration approaches with HGF/c-Met inhibition. We studied the effects of c-Met activation on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell migration, cell invasion, and associated molecular events in the settings of restored or inhibited PTEN expression in glioblastoma cells. We also assessed the experimental therapeutic effects of combining anti-HGF/c-Met approaches with PTEN restoration or
mTOR
inhibition. PTEN significantly inhibited HGF-induced proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion of glioblastoma cells. PTEN attenuated HGF-induced changes of signal transduction proteins Akt, GSK-3, JNK, and
mTOR
as well as cell cycle regulatory proteins p27, cyclin E, and E2F-1. Combining PTEN restoration to PTEN-null glioblastoma cells with c-Met and HGF inhibition additively inhibited tumor cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. Similarly, combining a monoclonal anti-HGF antibody (L2G7) with the
mTOR
inhibitor rapamycin had additive inhibitory effects on glioblastoma cell proliferation. Systemic in vivo delivery of L2G7 and PTEN restoration as well as systemic in vivo deliveries of L2G7 and rapamycin additively inhibited intracranial
glioma
xenograft growth. These preclinical studies show for the first time that PTEN loss amplifies c-Met-induced glioblastoma malignancy and suggest that combining anti-HGF/c-Met approaches with PTEN restoration or
mTOR
inhibition is worth testing in a clinical setting.
...
PMID:Interactions between PTEN and the c-Met pathway in glioblastoma and implications for therapy. 1919 Jan 20
Gliomas
are the most common and deadly form of malignant primary brain tumors. Loss of the tumor-suppressor PTEN and activation of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) EGF receptor, c-Met, PDGF receptor and VEGF receptor are among the most common molecular dysfunctions associated with
glioma
malignancy. PTEN interacts with RTK-dependent signaling at multiple levels. These include the ability of PTEN to counteract PI3K activation by RTKs, as well as possible effects of PTEN on RTK activation of the MAPK pathway and RTK-dependent gene-expression regulation. Consequently, PTEN expression affects RTK-induced malignancy. Importantly, the PTEN status was recently found to be critical for the outcome of RTK-targeted clinical therapies that have been developed recently. Combining RTK-targeted therapies with therapies aimed at counteracting the effects of PTEN loss, such as
mTOR
inhibition, might also have therapeutic advantage. This article reviews the known molecular and functional interactions between PTEN and RTK pathways and their implications for
glioma
therapy.
...
PMID:Interactions between PTEN and receptor tyrosine kinase pathways and their implications for glioma therapy. 1919 61
In normal brain, the side population (SP) phenotype is generated by ABC transporter activity and identifies stem cell and endothelial cell subpopulations by dye exclusion. By drug efflux, the ABCG2 transporter provides chemoresistance in stem cells and contributes to the blood brain barrier (BBB) when active in endothelial cells. We investigated the SP phenotype of mouse and human gliomas. In
glioma
endothelial cells, ABC transporter function is impaired, corresponding to disruption of the BBB in these tumors. By contrast, the SP phenotype is increased in nonendothelial cells that form neurospheres and are highly tumorigenic. In this cell population, Akt, but not its downstream target
mTOR
, regulates ABCG2 activity, and loss of PTEN increases the SP. This Akt-induced ABCG2 activation results from its transport to the plasma membrane. Temozolomide, the standard treatment of gliomas, although not an ABCG2 substrate, increases the SP in
glioma
cells, especially in cells missing PTEN.
...
PMID:PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway regulates the side population phenotype and ABCG2 activity in glioma tumor stem-like cells. 1926 52
Short interfering RNA targeting ILK (ILK siRNA) could be used to treat patients with cancers where constitutive activation of the AKT/PI3K pathway is prominent (e.g., those cancers lack functional PTEN). It is generally believed that siRNA therapeutics will require the use of delivery systems and lipid-based formulations containing cationic lipids (CLs) are a viable option. However, CLs are known to be toxic and exposure to CLs can influence cell survival pathways. This study characterized how CLs combine with ILK siRNA to influence the AKT/PI3K pathway. Using PTEN-negative cell lines (PC3 castration-insensitive prostate cancer cells and U251
glioma
cancer cells), the influence of CLs on the downstream consequences of ILK silencing was determined. When comparing nucleofection (an electroporation method that does not require the use of CLs) and CLs as means to deliver ILK siRNA, a 12- to 30-fold increase in siRNA delivery was achieved when using a CL formulation, yet ILK suppression was less efficient. Importantly, time-dependent signaling consequences associated with ILK silencing, including suppression of phosphorylated (serine 473)-AKT and changes in
mTOR
expression, were observed independently of ILK suppression when the target cells were exposed to cationic lipids following nucleofection-based delivery of ILK siRNA.
...
PMID:siRNA-mediated integrin-linked kinase suppression: nonspecific effects of siRNA/cationic liposome complexes trigger changes in the expression of phosphorylated-AKT and mTOR independently of ILK silencing. 1928 9
Several congenital syndromes caused by germline mutations in tumor suppressor genes predispose to the development of
glial tumors
. In the last few decades our knowledge about the molecular functions of these genes and the pathogenesis of hereditary tumor syndromes has greatly increased. The most common syndromes are the neurofibromatoses (type 1 and type 2) and the tuberous scleroses complex. There are interesting overlaps in the molecular pathogen-esis. Deregulation of Ras or downstream Ras pathways including MEK/ERK and AKT/
mTOR
plays an important role in these three syndromes. Other rare syndromes include Li-Fraumeni, melanoma-astrocytoma, and Turcot syndrome involving cell cycle regulators and DNA repair genes. The genes and pathways involved in the pathogenesis of these syndromes also play an important role in the development of sporadic tumors. Therefore research on hereditary syndromes contributes substantially to our understanding of tumor formation.
...
PMID:Hereditary tumor syndromes and gliomas. 1932 39
Despite major advances in the management of malignant gliomas of which glioblastomas represent the ultimate grade of malignancy, they remain characterized by dismal prognoses. Glioblastoma patients have a median survival expectancy of only 14 months on the current standard treatment of surgical resection to the extent feasible, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy plus temozolomide, given concomitantly with and after radiotherapy. Malignant gliomas are associated with such dismal prognoses because
glioma
cells can actively migrate through the narrow extra-cellular spaces in the brain, often travelling relatively long distances, making them elusive targets for effective surgical management. Clinical and experimental data have demonstrated that invasive malignant
glioma
cells show a decrease in their proliferation rates and a relative resistance to apoptosis (type I programmed cell death) as compared to the highly cellular centre of the tumor, and this may contribute to their resistance to conventional pro-apoptotic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Resistance to apoptosis results from changes at the genomic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional level of proteins, protein kinases and their transcriptional factor effectors. The PTEN/ PI3K/Akt/
mTOR
/NF-kappaB and the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascades play critical roles in the regulation of gene expression and prevention of apoptosis. Components of these pathways are mutated or aberrantly expressed in human cancer, notably glioblastomas. Monoclonal antibodies and low molecular-weight kinase inhibitors of these pathways are the most common classes of agents in targeted cancer treatment. However, most clinical trials of these agents as monotherapies have failed to demonstrate survival benefit. Despite resistance to apoptosis being closely linked to tumorigenesis, tumor cells can still be induced to die by non-apoptotic mechanisms such as necrosis, senescence, autophagy (type II programmed cell death) and mitotic catastrophe. Temozolomide brings significant therapeutic benefits in glioblastoma treatment. Part of temozolomide cytotoxic activity is exerted through pro-autophagic processes and also through the induction of late apoptosis. Autophagy, type II programmed cell death, represents an alternative mechanism to overcome, at least partly, the dramatic resistance of many cancers to pro-apoptotic-related therapies. Another way to potentially overcome apoptosis resistance is to decrease the migration of malignant
glioma
cells in the brain, which then should restore a level of sensitivity to pro-apoptotic drugs. Recent series of studies have supported the concept that malignant gliomas might be seen as an orchestration of cross-talks between cancer cells, microenvironment, vasculature and cancer stem cells. The present chapter focuses on (i) the major signaling pathways making glioblastomas resistant to apoptosis, (ii) the signaling pathways distinctly activated by pro-autophagic drugs as compared to pro-apoptotic ones, (iii) autophagic cell death as an alternative to combat malignant gliomas, (iv) the major scientific data already obtained by researchers to prove that temozolomide is actually a pro-autophagic and pro-apoptotic drug, (v) the molecular and cellular therapies and local drug delivery which could be used to complement conventional treatments, and a review of some of the currently ongoing clinical trials, (vi) the fact that reducing the levels of malignant
glioma
cell motility can restore pro-apoptotic drug sensitivity, (vii) the observation that inhibiting the sodium pump activity reduces both
glioma
cell proliferation and migration, (viii) the brain tumor stem cells as a target to complement conventional treatment.
...
PMID:Present and potential future adjuvant issues in high-grade astrocytic glioma treatment. 1936 79
Although inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor is a plausible therapy for malignant gliomas that, in vitro, enhances apoptosis, the results of clinical trials have been disappointing. The
mammalian target of rapamycin
(
mTOR
) is a serine/threonine kinase that integrates starvation signals and generates adaptive responses that aim at the maintenance of energy homeostasis. Antagonism of
mTOR
has been suggested as a strategy to augment the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition by interfering with deregulated signalling cascades downstream of Akt. Here we compared effects of antagonism of
mTOR
utilizing rapamycin or a small hairpin RNA-mediated gene silencing to those of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition or combined inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor and
mTOR
in human malignant
glioma
cells. In contrast to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition,
mTOR
antagonism neither induced cell death nor enhanced apoptosis induced by CD95 ligand or chemotherapeutic drugs. However,
mTOR
inhibition mimicked the hypoxia-protective effects of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition by maintaining adenosine triphosphate levels. These in vitro experiments thus challenge the current view of
mTOR
as a downstream target of Akt that mediates antiapoptotic stimuli. Under the conditions of the tumour microenvironment, metabolic effects of inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor, Akt and
mTOR
may adversely affect outcome by protecting the hypoxic tumour cell fraction.
...
PMID:Antagonism of the mammalian target of rapamycin selectively mediates metabolic effects of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition and protects human malignant glioma cells from hypoxia-induced cell death. 1941 48
Autophagy can promote cell survival or cell death, but the molecular basis underlying its dual role in cancer remains obscure. Here we demonstrate that delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component of marijuana, induces human
glioma
cell death through stimulation of autophagy. Our data indicate that THC induced ceramide accumulation and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha) phosphorylation and thereby activated an ER stress response that promoted autophagy via tribbles homolog 3-dependent (TRB3-dependent) inhibition of the Akt/
mammalian target of rapamycin
complex 1 (mTORC1) axis. We also showed that autophagy is upstream of apoptosis in cannabinoid-induced human and mouse cancer cell death and that activation of this pathway was necessary for the antitumor action of cannabinoids in vivo. These findings describe a mechanism by which THC can promote the autophagic death of human and mouse cancer cells and provide evidence that cannabinoid administration may be an effective therapeutic strategy for targeting human cancers.
...
PMID:Cannabinoid action induces autophagy-mediated cell death through stimulation of ER stress in human glioma cells. 1942 70
Malignant gliomas represent the majority of primary brain tumors. The current standard treatments for malignant gliomas include surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Radiotherapy, a standard adjuvant therapy, confers some survival advantages, but resistance of the
glioma
cells to the efficacy of radiation limits the success of the treatment. The mechanisms underlying
glioma
cell radioresistance have remained elusive. Autophagy is a protein degradation system characterized by a prominent formation of double-membrane vesicles in the cytoplasm. Recent studies suggest that autophagy may be important in the regulation of cancer development and progression and in determining the response of tumor cells to anticancer therapy. Also, autophagy is a novel response of
glioma
cells to ionizing radiation. Autophagic cell death is considered programmed cell death type II, whereas apoptosis is programmed cell death type I. These two types of cell death are predominantly distinctive, but many studies demonstrate a cross-talk between them. Whether autophagy in cancer cells causes death or protects cells is controversial. The regulatory pathways of autophagy share several molecules. PI3K/Akt/
mTOR
, DNA-PK, tumor suppressor genes, mitochondrial damage, and lysosome may play important roles in radiation-induced autophagy in
glioma
cells. Recently, a highly tumorigenic
glioma
tumor subpopulation, termed cancer stem cell or tumor-initiating cell, has been shown to promote therapeutic resistance. This review summarizes the main mediators associated with radiation-induced autophagy in malignant
glioma
cells and discusses the implications of the cancer stem cell hypothesis for the development of future therapies for brain tumors.
...
PMID:The role of autophagy in sensitizing malignant glioma cells to radiation therapy. 1943 Jun 98
Therapeutic inhibition of
mammalian target of rapamycin
(
mTOR
) in cancer is complicated by the existence of a negative feedback loop linking
mTOR
to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway. Thus,
mTOR
inhibition by rapamycin or TSC1/2 results in increased PI3K-Akt activation. The death domain kinase receptor interacting protein 1 (RIP1) plays a key role in nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and also activates the PI3K-Akt pathway through unknown mechanisms. RIP1 has recently been found to be overexpressed in glioblastoma multiforme, the most common adult primary malignant brain tumor, but not in grade II to III
glioma
. Our data suggest that RIP1 activates PI3K-Akt using dual mechanisms by removing the two major brakes on PI3K-Akt activity. First, increased expression of RIP1 activates PI3K-Akt by interrupting the
mTOR
negative feedback loop. However, unlike other signals that regulate
mTOR
activity without affecting its level, RIP1 negatively regulates
mTOR
transcription via a NF-kappaB-dependent mechanism. The second mechanism used by RIP1 to activate PI3K-Akt is down-regulation of cellular PTEN levels, which appears to be independent of NF-kappaB activation. The clinical relevance of these findings is highlighted by the demonstration that RIP1 levels correlate with activation of Akt in glioblastoma multiforme. Thus, our study shows that RIP1 regulates key components of the PTEN-PI3K-Akt-
mTOR
pathway and elucidates a novel negative regulation of
mTOR
signaling at the transcriptional level by the NF-kappaB pathway. Our data suggest that the RIP1-NF-kappaB status of tumors may influence response to treatments targeting the PTEN-PI3K-
mTOR
signaling axis.
...
PMID:RIP1 activates PI3K-Akt via a dual mechanism involving NF-kappaB-mediated inhibition of the mTOR-S6K-IRS1 negative feedback loop and down-regulation of PTEN. 1943 90
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