Project description:Temozolomide (TMZ) is an important first-line treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), but there are limitations to TMZ response in terms of durability and dependence on the promoter methylation status of the DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). MGMT-promoter-hypermethylated (MGMT-M) GBMs are more sensitive to TMZ than MGMT-promoter-hypomethylated (MGMT-UM) GBMs. Moreover, TMZ resistance is inevitable even in TMZ-sensitive MGMT-M GBMs. Hence, epigenetic reprogramming strategies are desperately needed in order to enhance TMZ response in both MGMT-M and MGMT-UM GBMs. In this study, we present novel evidence that the epigenetic reactivation of Tumor Suppressor Candidate 3 (TUSC3) can reprogram sensitivity of GBM stem cells (GSCs) to TMZ irrespective of MGMT promoter methylation status. Interrogation of TCGA patient GBM datasets confirmed TUSC3 promoter regulation of TUSC3 expression and also revealed a strong positive correlation between TUSC3 expression and GBM patient survival. Using a combination of loss-of-function, gain-of-function and rescue studies, we demonstrate that TUSC3 reactivation is associated with enhanced TMZ response in both MGMT-M and MGMT-UM GSCs. Further, we provide novel evidence that the demethylating agent 5-Azacitidine (5-Aza) reactivates TUSC3 expression in MGMT-M GSCs, whereas the combination of 5-Aza and MGMT inhibitor Lomeguatrib is necessary for TUSC3 reactivation in MGMT-UM GSCs. Lastly, we propose a pharmacological epigenetic reactivation strategy involving TUSC3 that leads to significantly prolonged survival in MGMT-M and MGMT-UM orthotopic GSCs models. Collectively, our findings provide a framework and rationale to further explore TUSC3-mediated epigenetic reprogramming strategies that could enhance TMZ sensitivity and outcomes in GBM. Mechanistic and translational evidence gained from such studies could contribute towards optimal design of impactful trials for MGMT-UM GBMs that currently do not have good treatment options.

Project description:BACKGROUND: O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation is reported to be a prognostic and predictive factor of alkylating chemotherapy for glioblastoma patients. Methylation specific PCR (MSP) has been most commonly used when the methylation status of MGMT is assessed. However, technical obstacles have hampered the implementation of MSP-based diagnostic tests. We quantitatively analyzed the methylation status of the entire MGMT promoter region and applied this information for prognostic prediction using sequencing technology. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2012, the genomic DNA of 85 tumor samples from newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients was subjected to bisulfite treatment and subdivided into a training set, consisting of fifty-three samples, and a test set, consisting of thirty-two samples. The training set was analyzed by deep Sanger sequencing with a sequencing coverage of up to 96 clones per sample. This analysis quantitatively revealed the degree of methylation of each cytidine phosphate guanosine (CpG) site. Based on these data, we constructed a prognostic prediction system for glioblastoma patients using a supervised learning method. We then validated this prediction system by deep sequencing with a next-generation sequencer using a test set of 32 samples. RESULTS: The methylation status of the MGMT promoter was correlated with progression-free survival (PFS) in our patient population in the training set. The degree of correlation differed among the CpG sites. Using the data from the top twenty CpG sites, we constructed a prediction system for overall survival (OS) and PFS. The system successfully classified patients into good and poor prognosis groups in both the training set (OS, p?=?0.0381; PFS, p?=?0.00122) and the test set (OS, p?=?0.0476; PFS, p?=?0.0376). Conventional MSP could not predict the prognosis in either of our sets. (training set: OS; p?=?0.993 PFS; p?=?0.113, test set: OS; p?=?0.326 PFS; p?=?0.342). CONCLUSIONS: The prognostic ability of our prediction system using sequencing data was better than that of methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Advances in sequencing technologies will make this approach a plausible option for diagnoses based on MGMT promotor methylation.

Project description:Abstract PURPOSE Adaptive MRI-guided radiotherapy (RT) on a 1.5T-MR-Linac using reduced clinical target volumes (CTV) of 5mm instead of the 15mm standard for glioblastoma (GBM) is currently being evaluated on the UNITED clinical trial (NCT04726397). We explored the morphological changes that occur during adaptive RT with concurrent temozolomide between tumors with MGMT promotor methylation (MGMT-m) vs. unmethylation (MGMT-um). METHODS Thirty patients with IDH-wildtype GBMs were treated with 60Gy in 30 (n=12) or 40Gy in 15 fractions (n=18) (Fx). The CTV included a 5mm expansion on the gross tumor volume (GTV) +/- FLAIR hyperintense areas-at-risk and a 3mm planning target volume. Planning was performed on a pre-treatment reference MRI (FxRef) followed by weekly on-line adaptive re-planning at Fx1, Fx6, etc. acquired on the MR-Linac. Interim fractions were image-guided by pre-beam-on onboard MRI. The GTV/CTVs were quantified by their absolute volumes, volumes relative to the FxRef and the maximum linear distance from the edges of the reference contour to the weekly adapted contours (migration distance, dmig). MGMT promoter methylation status was explored as a fixed effect in a linear mixed statistical model. RESULTS Weekly median changes in GTV relative to FxRef in MGMT-um tumors (n=12) were 10.3%, 9.2%, 10.6%, 14.5%, 18.0% and 17.3%, respectively, while for MGMT-m (n=18) were 3.4%, 0.0%, -8.6%, -11.3%, -11.3% and -5.6% (p=0.021). Between FxRef and Fx1, the GTV increased by over 10% in 58% of MGMT-um tumors vs. 33% of MGMT-m tumors. Similar significant trends were observed with the CTVs. MGMT-um tumors had significantly larger dmig compared to tumors with MGMT-m (median 9.6mm vs. 5.8mm, respectively (p=0.018)). CONCLUSIONS MGMT-um GBM exhibited significant changes in morphology and migration distance between the time of treatment planning to the first treatment fraction, as well as throughout a course of RT. In this population, our results support a greater frequency of imaging and plan adaptation when applying personalized reduced CTV margins.

Project description:Temozolomide (TMZ) is an important first-line treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), but there are limitations to TMZ response in terms of durability and dependence on the promoter methylation status of the DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). MGMT-promoter-hypermethylated (MGMT-M) GBMs are more sensitive to TMZ than MGMT-promoter-hypomethylated (MGMT-UM) GBMs. Moreover, TMZ resistance is inevitable even in TMZ-sensitive MGMT-M GBMs. Hence, epigenetic reprogramming strategies are desperately needed in order to enhance TMZ response in both MGMT-M and MGMT-UM GBMs. In this study, we present novel evidence that the epigenetic reactivation of Tumor Suppressor Candidate 3 (TUSC3) can reprogram sensitivity of GBM stem cells (GSCs) to TMZ irrespective of MGMT promoter methylation status. Interrogation of TCGA patient GBM datasets confirmed TUSC3 promoter regulation of TUSC3 expression and also revealed a strong positive correlation between TUSC3 expression and GBM patient survival. Using a combination of loss-of-function, gain-of-function and rescue studies, we demonstrate that TUSC3 reactivation is associated with enhanced TMZ response in both MGMT-M and MGMT-UM GSCs. Further, we provide novel evidence that the demethylating agent 5-Azacitidine (5-Aza) reactivates TUSC3 expression in MGMT-M GSCs, whereas the combination of 5-Aza and MGMT inhibitor Lomeguatrib is necessary for TUSC3 reactivation in MGMT-UM GSCs. Lastly, we propose a pharmacological epigenetic reactivation strategy involving TUSC3 that leads to significantly prolonged survival in MGMT-M and MGMT-UM orthotopic GSCs models. Collectively, our findings provide a framework and rationale to further explore TUSC3-mediated epigenetic reprogramming strategies that could enhance TMZ sensitivity and outcomes in GBM. Mechanistic and translational evidence gained from such studies could contribute towards optimal design of impactful trials for MGMT-UM GBMs that currently do not have good treatment options.

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Personalized treatment strategies in glioblastoma: MGMT promoter methylation status.

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Personalized treatment strategies in glioblastoma: MGMT promoter methylation status.

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