Non-coding RNAs enhance the apoptosis efficacy of therapeutic agents used for the treatment of glioblastoma multiform

Abstract

The treatment of brain tumours remains a challenge despite progress in surgical techniques and radio/chemotherapy. The therapeutic outcomes for glioblastoma multiform (GBM) have not been satisfactory and result in median overall survival (12–18 months). GBM displays both intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity, causing resistance and eventually tumour recurrence. In this review, we address molecular events responsible for the dysregulation of apoptosis and introduce newly discovered non-coding RNAs (MicroRNAs and Long non-coding RNAs) that regulate tumour growth and enhance therapeutic outcomes in GBM. The combinatory use of MicroRNAs and Long non-coding RNAs with chemotherapeutic compounds, as well as the induction of suicide genes, provide an innovative therapeutic approach for the management of GBM. The understanding of GBM pathogenesis, intrinsic drug resistance mechanism, and targetable oncogenic pathways could lead to establishing novel approaches and techniques to combat GBM.

KEYWORDS:

• Glioblastoma multiform
• apoptosis
• long non-coding RNAs
• microRNAs
• temozolomide

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the College of Science, University of Tehran and the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD, Grant No. 942974).