Background/aim: Glioblastoma is the most malignant and widespread brain tumor in adults, with a rapid clinical course. Recently, it has been hypothesized that L-DOPA plays a role in the diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of pretreatment with L-DOPA on the biological behavior of human T98G cells in vitro.
Materials and methods: T98G cells were treated with 50 μg/ml or 100 μg/ml of L-DOPA for 4 h and their morphology, growth rate, clonogenic survival and migratory capacity in basal conditions and after carbon ion irradiation were evaluated using standard methods.
Results: Treated cells showed a lower growth rate and an increased migratory capacity that correlated with the dose of tested L-DOPA. Treatment with L-DOPA increased the growth rate of carbon ion irradiated T98G cells compared to control non-treated cells exposed to the same radiation dose.
Conclusion: Our results open further questions about the overall advantage of L-DOPA treatment of glioblastoma.
Keywords: 18F-DOPA; Glioblastoma; L-DOPA; carbon ion radiation; migration; proliferation.
Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.