Enhancing glioblastoma cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutics: A strategy involving survivin gene silencing mediated by gemini surfactant-based complexes

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Cruz, RQ (Author) Other; Morais, CM (Author) Other; Cardoso, AM (Author) Other; Sandra G. Silva (Author) FCUP; M. Luisa C. do Vale (Author) FCUP; Eduardo F Marques (Author) FCUP; Pedroso de Lima, MCP (Author) Other; Jurado, AS (Author) Other

Journal

Title: European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics

Vol. 104

Pages: 7-18

ISSN: 0939-6411

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 18 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-E50

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2016.04.014

Abstract (EN): Glioblastoma (GBM), the highest grade astrocytoma, is one of the most aggressive and challenging cancers to treat. The standard treatment is usually limited due to the intrinsic resistance of GBM to chemotherapy and drug non-specific effects. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies need to be developed to target tumor cells, sparing healthy tissues. In this context, the inhibitor-of-apoptosis protein (IAP) survivin emerges as an ideal target for a gene silencing approach, since it is sharply differentially expressed in cancer tissues. In this work, two different families of cationic gemini surfactants (bis-quat conventional and serine-derived) were tested regarding their efficiency to deliver small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in a human GBM cell line (U87), in order to select an effective siRNA anti-survivin carrier. Importantly, survivin downregulation combined with administration of the chemotherapeutic agents temozolomide or etoposide resulted in a synergistic cytotoxic effect, thus revealing to be a promising strategy to reduce the chemotherapeutic doses for GBM treatment.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12