Effect of Epirubicin Against Glioma Initiating Cells

Abstract

Background: Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive primary malignant brain tumor. New treatments, especially ones that can eradicate subpopulations with stem-cell-like properties, are currently being explored. In vitro, epirubicin has demonstrated toxicity towards such populations. However, epirubicin fails to readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Furthermore, its efficacy against stem-like tumor cells growing within the neural tissue has not been fully addressed. Polymeric micelles are an advanced system developed to enhance drug delivery into tumors.Methods: We have investigated the effect of epirubicin micelles against murine glioma initiating cells (GICs) in vitro and ex vivo.Results: In vitro, epirubicin micelles inhibited the sphere growth of GICs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, they also inhibited the growth of GIC-based tumors in ex vivo cultured brain slices from the tumor-bearing mice. This effect was inversely proportional to the tumor size at the beginning of the treatment.Conclusions: Our results suggest that epirubicin micelles are effective against murine glioma cells with stem cell properties and their use should be initiated at an early stage.

Keywords

• epirubicin
• epirubicin micelle
• glioblastoma
• glioma initiating cells
• microglia