Giulio Cabrini et al., Regulation of expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase and the treatment of glioblastoma (Review). Journal of Oncology

Authors: Giulio Cabrini, Enrica Fabbri, Cristiana Lo Nigro, Maria Cristina Dechecchi, Roberto Gambari

Affiliations:
Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University Hospital, Verona, Italy,
Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy,
Department of Oncology, S. Croce and Carle Teaching Hospital, Cuneo, Italy

Abstract

O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is an abundantly expressed nuclear protein dealkylating O6-methylguanine (O6-MG) DNA residue, thus correcting the mismatches of O6-MG with a thymine residue during DNA replication. The dealkylating effect of MGMT is relevant not only in repairing DNA mismatches produced by environmental alkylating agents promoting tumor pathogenesis, but also when alkylating molecules are applied in the chemotherapy of different cancers, including glioma, the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system. Elevated MGMT gene expression is known to confer resistance to the treatment with the alkylating drug temozolomide in patients affected by gliomas and, on the contrary, methylation of MGMT gene promoter, which causes reduction of MGMT protein expression, is known to predict a favourable response to temozolomide. Thus, detecting expression levels of MGMT gene is crucial to indicate the option of alkylating agents or to select patients directly for a second line targeted therapy. Further study is required to gain insights into MGMT expression regulation, that has attracted growing interest recently in MGMT promoter methylation, histone acetylation and microRNAs expression. The review will focus on the epigenetic regulation of MGMT gene, with translational applications to the identification of biomarkers predicting response to therapy and prognosis.

Read the complete publication at this link

CONDIVIDI SU

Authors
Products
Request information

    Please insert your email address below, we will contact you soon.

    I confirm that I have read the information on the personal data management.

    I agree to the processing of my personal data
    according to the above mentioned information

    *Both options must be selected

    2017-08-08T12:27:20+02:00