1. New therapeutic target for pediatric anaplastic ependymoma control: study of anti-tumor activity by a Kunitz-type molecule, Amblyomin-X.
- Author
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Pavon LF, Capper D, Sibov TT, de Toledo SRC, Thomale UW, de Souza JG, Cabral FR, Berra CM, Silva da Costa MD, Mendonça Niçacio J, Dastoli PA, de Oliveira DM, Malheiros SMF, da Cruz EF, Malheiros JM, de Oliveira SM, Silva NS, Petrilli AS, Cappellano AM, Brunialti MC, Salomão R, de Paiva Neto MA, Chudzinski-Tavassi AM, and Cavalheiro S
- Subjects
- Adult, Animals, Apoptosis drug effects, Arthropod Proteins, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Fetal Stem Cells cytology, Fetal Stem Cells metabolism, Humans, Male, Rats, Wistar, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays methods, Antineoplastic Agents pharmacology, Ependymoma drug therapy, Salivary Proteins and Peptides pharmacology
- Abstract
EPNs comprise a heterogeneous group of neuroepithelial tumors, accounting for about 10% of all intracranial tumors in children and up to 30% of brain tumors in those younger than 3 years. Actually, the pattern therapy for low-grade EPNs includes complete surgical resection followed by radiation therapy. Total surgical excision is often not possible due to tumor location. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the anti-tumor activity of Amblyomin-X in 4 primary cultures derived from pediatric anaplastic posterior fossa EPN, Group A (anaplastic, WHO grade III) and one primary culture of a high grade neuroepithelial tumor with MN1 alteration, which was initially misdiagnosed as EPN: i) by in vitro assays: comparisons of temozolomide and cisplatin; ii) by intracranial xenograft model. Amblyomin-X was able to induce cell death in EPN cells in a more significant percentage compared to cisplatin. The cytotoxic effects of Amblyomin-X were not detected on hFSCs used as control, as opposed to cisplatin-treatment, which promoted a substantial effect in the hAFSCs viability. TEM analysis showed ultrastructural alterations related to the process of cell death: mitochondrial degeneration, autophagosomes and aggregate-like structures. MRI and histopathological analyzes demonstrated significant tumor mass regression. Our results suggest that Amblyomin-X has a selective effect on tumor cells by inducing apoptotic cell death and may be a therapeutic option for Group AEPNs.
- Published
- 2019
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