CDC20 regulates sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiation in glioblastoma stem cells

PLoS One. 2022 Jun 23;17(6):e0270251. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270251. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) are an important subpopulation in glioblastoma, implicated in tumor growth, tumor recurrence, and radiation resistance. Understanding the cellular mechanisms for chemo- and radiation resistance could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we demonstrate that CDC20 promotes resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. CDC20 knockdown does not increase TMZ- and radiation-induced DNA damage, or alter DNA damage repair, but rather promotes cell death through accumulation of the pro-apoptotic protein, Bim. Our results identify a CDC20 signaling pathway that regulates chemo- and radiosensitivity in GSCs, with the potential for CDC20-targeted therapeutic strategies in the treatment of glioblastoma.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Brain Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Cdc20 Proteins / genetics
  • Cdc20 Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Glioblastoma* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Cdc20 Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • CDC20 protein, human