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01-04-2016 | Laboratory Investigation

Combination treatment with fasudil and clioquinol produces synergistic anti-tumor effects in U87 glioblastoma cells by activating apoptosis and autophagy

Authors: Mingliang He, Ming Luo, Qingyu Liu, Jingkao Chen, Kaishu Li, Meiguang Zheng, Yinlun Weng, Leping Ouyang, Anmin Liu

Published in: Journal of Neuro-Oncology | Issue 2/2016

Abstract

Survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains poor, and novel treatment methods are urgently needed. In this study, we tested the effects of a combination of fasudil, a ROCK inhibitor, and clioquinol, an 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative with antimicrobial properties, on human GBM U87 cells. Combination treatment synergistically inhibited the viability of glioma cells but not mouse normal neuron HT22 cells and significantly induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, the combination was also found to trigger macro-autophagy (henceforth referred to as autophagy) by increasing the expression levels of several proteins involved in the induction of autophagy. Further studies showed that 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or chloroquine (CQ), two autophagy inhibitors, abrogated the cytotoxic effects of the combination treatment as well as the autophagy. Overall, we demonstrated that fasudil and clioquinol show synergistic anti-cancer effects, providing evidence for the further development of combination therapy for GBM.

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Title: Combination treatment with fasudil and clioquinol produces synergistic anti-tumor effects in U87 glioblastoma cells by activating apoptosis and autophagy
Authors: Mingliang He
Ming Luo
Qingyu Liu
Jingkao Chen
Kaishu Li
Meiguang Zheng
Yinlun Weng
Leping Ouyang
Anmin Liu
Publication date: 01-04-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Neuro-Oncology / Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 0167-594X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7373
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11060-015-2044-2

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Combination treatment with fasudil and clioquinol produces synergistic anti-tumor effects in U87 glioblastoma cells by activating apoptosis and autophagy

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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