Category CELL L13 “Differential Response to Temozolomide in Patient-derived

Glioblastoma Cells

Abstract Rationale

Over 23,000 malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord are

diagnosed in 2016. Unfortunately, approximately 16,000 people die

from their disease. Glioblastoma (GBM), the most common malignant

brain tumor is often treated with temozolomide chemotherapy. There is

an urgent need to identify the patients who will respond to

temozolomide due to its side effects profile. The methylation of the

promoter of the MGMT gene which codes for an enzyme critical in DNA

repair is shown to be associated with temozolomide sensitivity in

patients with GBM. Evaluation of the effect of temozolomide on patient-

derived GBM cell lines with varying MGMT methylation status has the

potential to provide additional insight on a specific drug’s activity ex-

vivo. Future application of this approach will allow researchers to

experiment on the patient’s tumor, not on the patient.



Research question, hypothesis, goals, expected outcomes

The purpose of this study is to determine the response to temozolomide

therapy in three existing patient-derived GBM cell lines. The

hypothesis is that the patient-derived GBM cell lines will mimic the

known actual patient response to temozolomide, providing additional

insight in the biology of the tumor. The expected outcome of this

research is to show that response to temozolomide in the patient-

derived GBM cell lines will be the same as in the GBM patient.



Procedures

Three patient-derived GBM cell lines (15-037, 14-015s, 14-104s) will be

obtained from the cryo-preserved archives of patient-derived cell lines

and tumor fragments. The samples in the archive were previously

collected under an Institutional Review Board approved protocol and

located in the Translational Neuro-Oncology Research Laboratory at

the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of

Medicine, Detroit, MI. The three cell lines will be untreated or exposed

to temozolomide (alkylating agent), or CH-223191 (aryl hydrocarbon

antagonist). Cell proliferation assays will be assessed by the Vybrant

MTT assay (Thermofisher). The GBM patient’s response to

temozolomide will also be provided in a de-identified manner.



Risk and Safety

Tumor tissues and the resulting cell lines may pose a biological hazard

with the risk of infection to exposed individuals. Temozolomide is an

agent used for chemotherapy and is known to be cytotoxic. All tumor

tissues and cell lines are handled in an annually re-certified biological

safety cabinet. Personal protective equipment (gloves, lab coat, safety

goggles) will be worn by all personnel performing the experiments.

Using these established procedures, there is only a minimal risk of

exposure.



Data Analysis

The numeric values obtained by the MTT assays will be analyzed for

statistical significance of differences between control cells and treated
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