Open AccessSystemic Anticancer Neural Stem Cells in Combination with a Cardiac Glycoside for Glioblastoma Therapy
Author(s) -
Teng Jian,
Hejazi Seyedali,
Badr Christian E.,
Tannous Bakhos A.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
stem cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.159
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1549-4918
pISSN - 1066-5099
DOI - 10.1002/stem.1727
Subject(s) - neural stem cell , glioma , biology , cancer research , apoptosis , stem cell , luciferase , systemic administration , pharmacology , genetic enhancement , cell culture , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology , transfection , gene , biochemistry , genetics
The tumor‐tropic properties of neural stem cells (NSCs) have been shown to serve as a novel strategy to deliver therapeutic genes to tumors. Recently, we have reported that the cardiac glycoside lanatoside C (Lan C) sensitizes glioma cells to the anticancer agent tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL). Here, we engineered an FDA‐approved human NSC line to synthesize and secrete TRAIL and the Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) blood reporter. We showed that upon systemic injection, these cells selectively migrate toward tumors in the mice brain across the blood‐brain barrier, target invasive glioma stem‐like cells, and induce tumor regression when combined with Lan C. Gluc blood assay revealed that 30% of NSCs survived 1 day postsystemic injection and around 0.5% of these cells remained viable after 5 weeks in glioma‐bearing mice. This study demonstrates the potential of systemic injection of NSCs to deliver anticancer agents, such as TRAIL, which yields glioma regression when combined with Lan C. S tem C ells 2014;32:2021–2032