title: Emx2 as a novel tool to suppress glioblastoma.
abstract: Glioblastoma is a devastating CNS tumour for which no cure is presently available. We wondered if manipulation of Emx2, which normally antagonizes cortico-cerebral astrogenesis by inhibiting proliferation of astrocyte progenitors, may be employed to counteract it. We found that Emx2 overexpression induced the collapse of seven out of seven in vitro tested glioblastoma cell lines. Moreover, it suppressed four out of four of these lines in vivo. As proven by dedicated rescue assays, the antioncogenic activity of Emx2 originated from its impact on at least six metabolic nodes, which accounts for the robustness of its effect. Finally, in two out of two tested lines, the tumor culture collapse was also achieved when Emx2 was driven by a neural stem cell-specific promoter, likely active within tumor-initiating cells. All that points to Emx2 as a novel, promising tool for therapy of glioblastoma and prevention of its recurrencies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, SISSA, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.affiliation: DIPOE, IRCCS AOU San Martino IST, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daga
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leanza
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, SISSA, 34136 Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mallamaci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins
keywords: EGFR; Emx2; SOX2; gene therapy; glioblastoma