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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor. Current therapeutic strategies are based on the use of Temozolomide (TMZ) and antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) drugs, such as Afatinib. However, clinically relevant drug-resistance events are still present and closely related to a proinflammatory cancer brain microenvironment. The primary aim of this study is the association of Boswellic acid (BA), a molecule derived from Boswellia Serrata, with TMZ and Afatinibin different human GBM cells. We performed cell viability studies evaluating its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects analyzing p65/NF-κB and Leukotriene B4 expression and production of interleukins and growth factors (IL-8, IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor, CXCL-12, and MMP-9). Considering the cardiotoxicity of TMZ and anti-EGFR drugs, we evaluated the putative cardioprotective effects of BA in adult cardiomyocytes. BA significantly increased the anticancer activities of TMZ and Afatinib. These effects are related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, based on the inhibition of growth factors and proinflammatory interleukins. Notably, BA exerts also cardioprotective effects in combination to both drugs. This study provides evidences of anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and chemo sensitizing effects of BA in glioblastoma cells giving a rationale for new translational studies based on the use of this natural molecule during conventional therapies. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor. Current therapeutic strategies are based on the use of Temozolomide (TMZ) and antihuman epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) drugs, such as Afatinib. However, clinically relevant drug-resistance events are still present and closely related to a proinflammatory cancer brain microenvironment. The primary aim of this study is the association of Boswellic acid (BA), a molecule derived from Boswellia Serrata, with TMZ and Afatinibin different human GBM cells. We performed cell viability studies evaluating its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects analyzing p65/NF-B and Leukotriene B4 expression and production of interleukins and growth factors (IL-8, IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor, CXCL-12, and MMP-9). Considering the cardiotoxicity of TMZ and anti-EGFR drugs, we evaluated the putative cardioprotective effects of BA in adult cardiomyocytes. BA significantly increased the anticancer activities of TMZ and Afatinib. These effects are related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, based on the inhibition of growth factors and proinflammatory interleukins. Notably, BA exerts also cardioprotective effects in combination to both drugs. This study provides evidences of anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and chemo sensitizing effects of BA in glioblastoma cells giving a rationale for new translational studies based on the use of this natural molecule during conventional therapies.

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and aggressive primary brain cancer with only ∼3% of patients surviving more than 3 years from diagnosis. Several mechanisms are involved in drug and radiation resistance to anticancer treatments and among them one of the most important factors is the tumor microenvironment status, characterized by cancer cell hypersecretion of interleukins and cytokines. The aim of our research was the synthesis of a nanocarrier of quercetin combined with temozolomide, to enhance the specificity and efficacy of this anticancer drug commonly used in glioblastoma treatment. The nanohydrogel increased the internalization and cytotoxicity of quercetin in human glioblastoma cells and, when co-delivered with temozolomide, contribute to an improved anticancer effect. The nanohydrogel loaded with quercetin had the ability to recognize CD44 receptor, a brain cancer cell marker, through an energy and caveolae dependent mechanism of internalization. Moreover, nanohydrogel of quercetin was able to reduce significantly IL-8, IL-6, and VEGF production in pro-inflammatory conditions with interesting implications on the mechanism of glioblastoma cells drug resistance. In summary, novel CD44 targeted polymeric based nanocarriers appear to be proficient in mediating site-specific delivery of quercetin via CD44 receptor in glioblastoma cells. This targeted therapy lead to an improved therapeutic efficacy of temozolomide by modulating the brain tumor microenvironment. Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and aggressive primary brain cancer with only approximate to 3% of patients surviving more than 3 years from diagnosis. Several mechanisms are involved in drug and radiation resistance to anticancer treatments and among them one of the most important factors is the tumor microenvironment status, characterized by cancer cell hypersecretion of interleukins and cytokines. The aim of our research was the synthesis of a nanocarrier of quercetin combined with temozolomide, to enhance the specificity and efficacy of this anticancer drug commonly used in glioblastoma treatment. The nanohydrogel increased the internalization and cytotoxicity of quercetin in human glioblastoma cells and, when co-delivered with temozolomide, contribute to an improved anticancer effect. The nanohydrogel loaded with quercetin had the ability to recognize CD44 receptor, a brain cancer cell marker, through an energy and caveolae dependent mechanism of internalization. Moreover, nanohydrogel of quercetin was able to reduce significantly IL-8, IL-6, and VEGF production in pro-inflammatory conditions with interesting implications on the mechanism of glioblastoma cells drug resistance. In summary, novel CD44 targeted polymeric based nanocarriers appear to be proficient in mediating site-specific delivery of quercetin via CD44 receptor in glioblastoma cells. This targeted therapy lead to an improved therapeutic efficacy of temozolomide by modulating the brain tumor microenvironment.

In an effort to make transgenesis more flexible and reproducible, we developed a system based on novel 5′ and 3′ 'gene trap' vectors containing heterospecific Flp recognition target sites and the corresponding 'exchange' vectors allowing the insertion of any DNA sequence of interest into the trapped locus. Flp-recombinase-mediated cassette exchange was demonstrated to be highly efficient in our system, even in the absence of locus-specific selection. The feasibility of constructing a library of ES cell clones using our gene trap vectors was tested and a thousand insertion sites were characterized, following electroporation in ES cells, by RACE-PCR and sequencing. We validated the system in vivo for two trapped loci in transgenic mice and demonstrated that the reporter transgenes inserted into the trapped loci have an expression pattern identical to the endogenous genes. We believe that this system will facilitate in vivo studies of gene function and large-scale generation of mouse models of human diseases, caused by not only loss but also gain of function alleles. © The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.