Red light-activated depletion of drug-refractory glioblastoma stem cells and chemosensitization of an acquired-resistant mesenchymal phenotype.

ABSTRACT: Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are potent tumor initiators resistant to radiochemotherapy, and this subpopulation is hypothesized to re-populate the tumor milieu due to selection following conventional therapies. Here, we show that 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) treatment-a pro-fluorophore used for fluorescence-guided cancer surgery-leads to elevated levels of fluorophore conversion in patient-derived GSC cultures, and subsequent red light-activation induces apoptosis in both intrinsically temozolomide chemotherapy-sensitive and -resistant GSC phenotypes. Red light irradiation of ALA-treated cultures also exhibits the ability to target mesenchymal GSCs (Mes-GSCs) with induced temozolomide resistance. Furthermore, sub-lethal light doses restore Mes-GSC sensitivity to temozolomide, abrogating G

SUBMITTER: Spring BQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11664018 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan-Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature