A cell-penetrating MARCKS mimetic selectively triggers cytolytic death in glioblastoma

Oncogene. 2020 Nov;39(46):6961-6974. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01511-9. Epub 2020 Oct 19.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive malignancy with limited effectiveness of standard of care therapies including surgery, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy necessitating novel therapeutics. Unfortunately, GBMs also harbor several signaling alterations that protect them from traditional therapies that rely on apoptotic programmed cell death. Because almost all GBM tumors have dysregulated phosphoinositide signaling as part of that process, we hypothesized that peptide mimetics derived from the phospholipid binding domain of Myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) could serve as a novel GBM therapeutic. Using molecularly classified patient-derived xenograft (PDX) lines, cultured in stem-cell conditions, we demonstrate that cell permeable MARCKS effector domain (ED) peptides potently target all GBM molecular classes while sparing normal human astrocytes. Cell death mechanistic testing revealed that these peptides produce rapid cytotoxicity in GBM that overcomes caspase inhibition. Moreover, we identify a GBM-selective cytolytic death mechanism involving plasma membrane targeting and intracellular calcium accumulation. Despite limited relative partitioning to the brain, tail-vein peptide injection revealed tumor targeting in intracranially implanted GBM PDX. These results indicate that MARCKS ED peptide therapeutics may overcome traditional GBM resistance mechanisms, supporting further development of similar agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Astrocytes
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / cytology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Glioblastoma / drug therapy*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate / genetics*
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Peptide Fragments / therapeutic use
  • Protein Domains / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • MARCKS protein, human
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate
  • Caspases