Verteporfin selectively kills hypoxic glioma cells through iron-binding and increased production of reactive oxygen species.

ABSTRACT: Gliomas are highly malignant brain tumours characterised by extensive areas of poor perfusion which subsequently leads to hypoxia and reduced survival. Therapies that address the hypoxic microenvironment are likely to significantly improve patient outcomes. Verteporfin, a benzoporphyrin-like drug, has been suggested to target the Yes-associated protein (YAP). Increased YAP expression and transcriptional activity has been proposed in other tumour types to promote malignant cell survival and thus YAP-inhibitor, verteporfin, may be predicted to impact glioma cell growth and viability. Due to the extensive hypoxic nature of gliomas, we investigated the effect of hypoxia on YAP expression and found that YAP transcription is increased under these conditions. Treatment of both primary and immorta

SUBMITTER: Eales KL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6156578 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature