Resistance mechanisms to treatment with temozolomide in glioma cells

• Grant number: 16/25784-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: June 26, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Frederico Martins Menck
• Grantee: André Uchimura Bastos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/19435-3 - The role of DNA damage and mitochondrial function in vascular, immune and neurological ageing (DNA MoVINg), AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 19/24536-3 - Alkylation and redox induced DNA lesions in glioma cells damaged by temozolomide, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

Patients with glioblastoma, the most common type of malignant neoplasm of the brain in adults, still show poor prognoses with the available therapeutic protocols, and Temozolomide (TMZ) is the main drug used to treat this type of tumor. TMZ is an alkylating agent that causes DNA methylation and a wide range of DNA damage (genomic and mitochondrial), leading to cell death. However, tumors treated with TMZ presents several mechanisms of resistance. One of the main mechanisms is the ability of MGMT (Methyl Guanine Methyl Transferase) to directly reverse the lesions (methylation) in the DNA molecule. Additionally, MGMT loss of expression is associated with better prognosis and survival in patients treated with TMZ. The increase in the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has also been associated with resistance to TMZ. Our group showed that gluthathione (GSH), a peptide that plays a crucial role in the maintenance of redox cell homeostasis, prevents cell death by TMZ, a mechanism mediated by the transcription factor NRF2. However, it is unclear how this mechanism is involved directly in the reduction of methylation of genomic DNA (and therefore subject to the action of MGMT) or damage generated by oxidative stress. Thus, the initial idea of this project is to verify, by over-expression of MGMT in glioma cells, the role of DNA methylation lesions, in relation to oxidatively generated damage, on TMZ induced cell death, in conditions where the levels of GSH are modulated.Other mechanisms of resistance to TMZ have been reported. Through the generation of libraries using the CRISPR system (clustered regurlaly interspaced short palindrome repeats)-Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9) (CRISPR-Cas9), our group identified a list of potential genes associated with TMZ resistance. Among these genes, the Fanconi anemia pathway has caught our attention because of its role in DNA repair. Thus, we expect that this project will help us not only to a better understanding in the protection of tumor cells to TMZ therapy, but also will provide us data to allow the development of alternatives that can potentiate the chemotherapeutic action of this drug. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DE JESUS PANIZA, ANA CAROLINA; MENDES, THAIS BIUDE; BORGES VIANNA, MATHEUS DUARTE; DIAS THOMAZ, DEBORA MOTA; CHIAPPINI, PAULA B. O.; COLAZZA-GAMA, GABRIEL A.; LINDSEY, SUSAN CHOW; DE CARVALHO, MARCOS BRASILINO; FERREIRA ALVES, VENANCIO AVANCINI; CURIONI, OTAVIO; et al. Revised criteria for diagnosis of NIFTP reveals a better correlation with tumor biological behavior. ENDOCRINE CONNECTIONS, v. 8, n. 11, p. 1529-1538, NOV 2019. (17/06487-0, 14/06570-6, 16/25784-2, 17/16315-1)

DE JESUS PANIZA, ANA CAROLINA; MENDES, THAIS BIUDE; BORGES VIANNA, MATHEUS DUARTE; DIAS THOMAZ, DEBORA MOTA; CHIAPPINI, PAULA B. O.; COLAZZA-GAMA, GABRIEL A.; LINDSEY, SUSAN CHOW; DE CARVALHO, MARCOS BRASILINO; FERREIRA ALVES, VENANCIO AVANCINI; CURIONI, OTAVIO; et al. Revised criteria for diagnosis of NIFTP reveals a better correlation with tumor biological behavior. ENDOCRINE CONNECTIONS, v. 8, n. 11, p. 10-pg., 2019-11-01. (14/06570-6, 16/25784-2, 17/16315-1, 17/06487-0)