Treating brain tumor-initiating cells using a combination of myxoma virus and rapamycin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intratumoral heterogeneity in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) poses a significant barrier to therapy in certain subpopulation such as the tumor-initiating cell population, being shown to be refractory to conventional therapies. Oncolytic virotherapy has the potential to target multiple compartments within the tumor and thus circumvent some of the barriers facing conventional therapies. In this study, we investigate the oncolytic potential of myxoma virus (MYXV) alone and in combination with rapamycin in vitro and in vivo using human brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs).

Methods

We cultured fresh GBM specimens as neurospheres and assayed their growth characteristics in vivo. We then tested the susceptibility of BTICs to MYXV infection with or without rapamycin in vit

SUBMITTER: Zemp FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3688014 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature