New hope for glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults. Temozolomide—originally developed for treating leukemia—is the standard chemotherapy drug for GBM patients. Despite treatment, the survival rate for GBM is low for several reasons:

1. Invasive growth: GBM is highly infiltrative, which means that cancer cells can invade and spread into the surrounding healthy brain tissue. This makes it challenging to remove the entire tumor surgically, as the tumor’s margins are often not well-defined, and removing all cancer cells without causing damage to healthy brain tissue is difficult.
2. Resistance to treatment: GBM tumors exhibit a high degree of resistance to conventional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. This resistance can be due to various factors, including the blood-brain barrier (which limits the passage of chemotherapy drugs into the brain), tumor heterogeneity (diversity of cell types within the tumor), and the presence of glioma stem cells that are resistant to therapy and can repopulate the tumor.
3. Genetic mutations: GBM tumors often have multiple genetic mutations that drive tumor growth, angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), and resistance to therapy. These mutations can make it difficult to develop targeted therapies that effectively treat GBM.
4. Late diagnosis: The symptoms of GBM can be nonspecific, including headaches, seizures, cognitive decline, and neurological deficits. These symptoms may not appear until the tumor has reached an advanced stage, making it more challenging to treat.
5. Location and impact on brain function: GBM tumors are often located in critical areas of the brain that control essential functions such as movement, speech, and cognition. This makes it challenging to remove the tumor without causing significant neurological damage or functional impairment.
6. Rapid growth and recurrence: GBM tumors tend to grow rapidly, and even with aggressive treatment, they often recur. The recurrent tumors are typically more aggressive and resistant to therapy than the initial tumor, further contributing to the low survival rate.

Patients with GBM, unfortunately, can face a fatal prognosis as little progress has been made. Despite the challenges, scientists and integrative physicians have been working hard to develop new therapies and strategies to improve the prognosis for patients with GBM. Repurposing existing drugs can be an effective way to improve treatment outcomes. The following drugs have shown promise for GBM:

1. Aprepitant (Emend): This medication is primarily used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It belongs to a class of drugs known as neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1r) antagonists. Aprepitant works by blocking the action of substance P, a neurotransmitter involved in the vomiting reflex. The activation of NK-1r by SP has been shown to be a key player in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation, migration, and survival, as well as holding a vital function in the regulation of the self-renewal and tumor-forming potential of cancer stem cells.
2. Disulfiram (Antabuse): This drug is typically used to treat alcohol dependence. However, preclinical studies have indicated that disulfiram could potentially inhibit glioblastoma growth by targeting cancer stem cells and blocking the NF-κB pathway, which plays a role in cancer cell survival and inflammation.
3. Gallium maltolate: Disrupts tumor iron metabolism and retards the growth of glioblastoma by inhibiting mitochondrial function and ribonucleotide reductase.
4. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil): This antimalarial drug has shown promise in preclinical studies as an autophagy inhibitor, which could prevent cancer cells from recycling nutrients and lead to their death.
5. Metformin (Glucophage): A widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, metformin has shown potential as an adjunct therapy for glioblastoma. It may inhibit cancer cell growth by targeting the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, which plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth and metabolism.
6. Piperlongumine: Kills glioblastoma multiforme cells via reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and immune destruction.
7. Pregnenolone: This is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol in the body. Pregnenolone has been found to induce glioma cell apoptosis via activating extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways.
8. Rheum rhaponticum: Also known as Siberian rhubarb, this is a plant native to Eastern Europe and Asia. Its roots have been traditionally used for various medicinal purposes. Rheum rhaponticum contains a compound called ERr 731 that has been shown to selectively bind to and activate estrogen receptor beta (ERβ). Recent studies suggest ERβ may function as a tumor suppressor in GBM.
9. Ritonavir (Norvir): This is an antiretroviral medication that is primarily used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. It belongs to a class of drugs known as protease inhibitors, which work by blocking the action of HIV protease, an enzyme necessary for the virus to replicate. Studies have suggested that ritonavir might have direct anti-cancer properties. These include inhibiting cancer cell growth, promoting apoptosis (programmed cell death), and reducing angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels that supply nutrients to tumors).
10. Sodium selenite: This is a form of selenium, an essential trace element that is important for human health. Selenium has been investigated for its potential anti-tumor effects in various types of cancer. Studies have shown that sodium selenite may have anti-tumor effects in GBM by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death) and inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells.
11. Statins: Primarily used to lower cholesterol levels, statins have demonstrated some potential in preclinical studies for reducing glioblastoma growth by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway, which is crucial for cancer cell proliferation.
12. Valproic acid (Depakote): An antiepileptic drug, valproic acid has shown potential as an adjunctive therapy for GBM due to its ability to inhibit histone deacetylase, an enzyme involved in the regulation of gene expression.

References:

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