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Perillyl alcohol induces apoptosis in human glioblastoma multiforme cells
Janaína Fernandes1, Clovis Orlando da Fonseca, Anselmo Teixeira
1Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco G, Cidade Universitária, CEP 21949-900, Rio de Janeiro, R.J, Brasil.
Abstract:
Standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme consisting of surgical resection, radiation and/or chemotherapy is rarely curative, emphasizing the need for new chemotherapeutic drugs. The monoterpene perillyl alcohol (POH) has preventive and therapeutic effects in a wide variety of pre-clinical tumor models and is currently under phase I and II clinical trials. In the present study, we analyzed its effect on human glioblastoma cell lines (U87 and A172) and a primary cell culture derived from a human glioblastoma tumor specimen (GBM-1). Using MTT, we showed that POH inhibits the viability of glioblastomas in a concentration-dependent way. Glioblastoma cell lines treated with POH showed morphological alterations characteristic of apoptosis. Analysis of cell cycle and quantification of DNA fragmentation, in cells stained with propidium iodide (PI), confirmed the apoptotic effect of POH on glioblastomas. These data support the potential usefulness of perillyl alcohol as an effective chemotherapeutic agent for patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.
Insights
Perillyl alcohol (POH) effectively inhibits glioblastoma cell viability and induces apoptosis. This study supports POH as a potential new chemotherapy for glioblastoma treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Standard glioblastoma treatments are rarely curative, necessitating novel chemotherapeutic agents.
- Perillyl alcohol (POH), a monoterpene, demonstrates preventive and therapeutic potential in preclinical cancer models.
- POH is currently undergoing Phase I and II clinical trials for various cancers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anti-cancer effects of perillyl alcohol (POH) on human glioblastoma cell lines and primary cultures.
- To determine the mechanism of POH-induced cell death in glioblastoma.
Main Methods:
- Human glioblastoma cell lines (U87, A172) and a primary glioblastoma culture (GBM-1) were treated with POH.
- Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay.
- Morphological changes, cell cycle progression, and DNA fragmentation were analyzed using propidium iodide (PI) staining.
Main Results:
- POH demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibition of glioblastoma cell viability.
- POH treatment induced morphological alterations indicative of apoptosis in glioblastoma cells.
- Cell cycle analysis and DNA fragmentation assays confirmed POH's apoptotic effect on glioblastoma cells.
Conclusions:
- Perillyl alcohol exhibits significant cytotoxic and apoptotic effects against human glioblastoma cells.
- These findings suggest that POH holds promise as a chemotherapeutic agent for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.
