Mevalonate Cascade Inhibition Sensitizes human Glioblastoma Cells to Temozolomide via Modulation of Autophagy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), also known as glioblastoma and grade IV astrocytoma, is the most common and most aggressive cancer that begins within the brain. There is no clear way to prevent the disease. Typically treatment involves surgery after which chemotherapy and radiation therapy is used. The medication Temozolomide (TMZ) is frequently used as part of chemotherapy. Cholesterol lowering drugs (statins) is recently being considered as a novel and safe approach for combination therapies in many cancers. In the current project we are going to address how statins sensitizes human GBM cells to TMZ-induced programmed cell death. We will use different pharmacological and gene silencing approaches to investigated the role of program cell death in this mechanism. Our project will open a new horizon in treatment of GBM and provide opportunities to increase the survival rate of GBM patients.

Faculty Supervisor:

Saeid Ghavami

Student:

Shahla Shojaei

Partner:

Health Sciences Centre Foundation

Discipline:

Visual arts

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

University of Manitoba