Discovery of a Therapeutic Agent for Glioblastoma Using a Systems Biology-Based Drug Repositioning ApproachShow others and affiliations
2024 (English)In: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, ISSN 1661-6596, E-ISSN 1422-0067, Vol. 25, no 14, article id 7868
Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly malignant tumour of the central nervous system, presents with a dire prognosis and low survival rates. The heterogeneous and recurrent nature of GBM renders current treatments relatively ineffective. In our study, we utilized an integrative systems biology approach to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving GBM progression and identify viable therapeutic drug targets for developing more effective GBM treatment strategies. Our integrative analysis revealed an elevated expression of CHST2 in GBM tumours, designating it as an unfavourable prognostic gene in GBM, as supported by data from two independent GBM cohorts. Further, we pinpointed WZ-4002 as a potential drug candidate to modulate CHST2 through computational drug repositioning. WZ-4002 directly targeted EGFR (ERBB1) and ERBB2, affecting their dimerization and influencing the activity of adjacent genes, including CHST2. We validated our findings by treating U-138 MG cells with WZ-4002, observing a decrease in CHST2 protein levels and a reduction in cell viability. In summary, our research suggests that the WZ-4002 drug candidate may effectively modulate CHST2 and adjacent genes, offering a promising avenue for developing efficient treatment strategies for GBM patients.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) , 2024. Vol. 25, no 14, article id 7868
Keywords [en]
co-expression, drug repositioning, extracellular matrix, glioblastoma, glycosaminoglycans, survival
National Category
Cancer and Oncology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-351705DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147868ISI: 001277288800001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85199800918OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-351705DiVA, id: diva2:1888668
Note
QC 20240814
2024-08-132024-08-132024-08-14Bibliographically approved