Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most difficult-to-combat primary malignant brain tumor in adults. To date, the standard-of-care treatment modalities include surgical resection of the tumor mass followed by radio- and chemotherapy.
The aggressive infiltrating nature of gliomas makes selective removal of cancer-infiltrated brain tissues without adversely affecting the healthy tissues a big challenge for surgeons. The blood brain barrier (BBB) prevents drugs and drug delivery systems from reaching glioma cells in the brain parenchyma. So, although targeted chemotherapy modalities elicit significant tumor regression, persistence is generally short-lived limiting the overall clinical benefit.
Schematic representation of therapeutic modalities used in combating mouse brain tumor.
Researchers from the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology recently reported on liposomal formulations of two novel nicotinylated amphiphiles for targeting potent anti-cancer drugs to mouse glioblastoma. They showed that targeted chemotherapy with liposomes of nicotinylated amphiphiles loaded with a potent small molecule inhibitor of signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation in combination with in vivo dendritic cell (DC) targeted genetic immunization (DC) led to marked improvement in the overall survivability of glioblastoma bearing mice”.
