Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Translational Orthotopic Models of Glioblastoma Multiforme
Published on: February 17, 2023
In Vitro Validation of Intratumoral Modulation Therapy for Glioblastoma
H U Xu1, Frank Bihari1, Shawn Whitehead2
1Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Background/Aim:
This proof-of-concept study evaluated the antitumor impact of a direct electrical stimulation technique, termed intratumoral modulation therapy (IMT) on glioblastoma (GBM) cells.
Materials And Methods:
An in vitro IMT model comprised of a calibrated electrode to deliver continuous, low-intensity stimulation within GBM preparations. Viability and apoptosis assays were performed in treated immortalized and patient-derived GBM cells, and post-mitotic neurons. IMT was delivered alone and with temozolomide, or gene silencing of the tumor-promoting chaperone, heat-shock protein 27 (HSP27).
Results:
GBM cells, but not neurons, exhibited >40% loss of viability, caspase-3 activation and apoptosis with IMT. Cell death was modest with temozolomide alone (30%) but increased significantly with concomitant IMT (70%). HSP27 silencing alone produced 30% viability loss, with significant enhancement of target knockdown and GBM cell death (65%), when combined with IMT.
Conclusion:
These findings warrant further evaluation of IMT as a potential novel therapeutic strategy for GBM.
