Modulation of Stemness and Differentiation Regulators by Valproic Acid in Medulloblastoma Neurospheres.

ABSTRACT: Changes in epigenetic processes such as histone acetylation are proposed as key events influencing cancer cell function and the initiation and progression of pediatric brain tumors. Valproic acid (VPA) is an antiepileptic drug that acts partially by inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs) and could be repurposed as an epigenetic anticancer therapy. Here, we show that VPA reduced medulloblastoma (MB) cell viability and led to cell cycle arrest. These effects were accompanied by enhanced H3K9 histone acetylation (H3K9ac) and decreased expression of the MYC oncogene. VPA impaired the expansion of MB neurospheres enriched in stemness markers and reduced MYC while increasing TP53 expression in these neurospheres. In addition, VPA induced morphological changes consistent wit

SUBMITTER: Freire NH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11463451 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature