title: In vitro and in vivo effect of human lactoferrin on glioblastoma growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human lactoferrin (HLF) is a natural protein with antitumor activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of HLF alone and in combination with temozolomide (TMZ), a conventional chemotherapeutic, on human glioblastoma (GBM) cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors cultured fresh human primary cell lines NMD and FN and the continuous cell line U87MG to evaluate proliferation in the presence of HLF alone at different doses (1, 10, and 100 mg/ml, and 1 mg/ml) and in combination with TMZ. In in vivo experiments they assessed tumor size reduction in CD1 nude mice carrying an orthotopic GBM xenograft and orally treated with HLF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lactoferrin causes growth inhibition in the NMD and FN primary cell lines and in the U87MG continuous cell line. This inhibition seemed to be modulated by the downregulation of cyclin D1 and D4. Western blot and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis showed inhibition of the cell cycle in G0/G1 and G2 phases. When administered in nude mice, HLF (60 mg/kg/day) decreased tumor size about 30%, as shown in both histological analyses and high-field brain MRI. Administration of HLF with TMZ enhanced the effect of chemotherapy both in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that HLF can inhibit GBM cell growth, suggesting that this nontoxic substance may have a role in potentiating the effect of current TMZ treatment of GBM.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcella
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Staffieri
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aalberti
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grillea
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Madonna
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartolo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.|University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantore
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle, Pozzilli; and.|University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frati
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D000077204:Temozolomide; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; C490098:LTF protein, human; D003606:Dacarbazine; D007781:Lactoferrin; D000077204:Temozolomide
keywords: BSA = bovine serum albumin; BrdU = bromodeoxyuridine; DMEM = Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium; FACS = fluorescence-activated cell sorting; FCS = fetal calf serum; FRFSE = fast-recovery fast spin-echo; GBM = glioblastoma; HLF = human lactoferrin; NK = natural killer; PBS = phosphate-buffered saline; TMZ = temozolomide; bLF = bovine lactoferrin; glioblastoma; glioblastoma xenografts; human glioblastoma primary cultures; human lactoferrin; oncology