Piperlongumine conquers temozolomide chemoradiotherapy resistance to achieve immune cure in refractory glioblastoma via boosting oxidative stress-inflamation-CD8+-T cell immunity

BackgroundThe failure of novel therapies effective in preclinical animal models largely reflects the fact that current models do not really mimic the pathological/therapeutic features of glioblastoma (GBM), in which the most effective temozolomide chemoradiotherapy (RT/TMZ) regimen can only slightly extend survival. How to improve RT/TMZ efficacy remains a major challenge in clinic.MethodsSyngeneic G422(TN)-GBM model mice were subject to RT/TMZ, surgery, piperlongumine (PL), alpha PD1, glutathione. Metabolomics or transcriptomics data from G422(TN)-GBM and human GBM were used for gene enrichment analysis and estimation of ROS generation/scavenging balance, oxidative stress damage, inflammation and immune cell infiltration. Overall survival, bioluminescent imaging, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining were used to examine therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of action.ResultsHere we identified that glutathione metabolism was most significantly altered in metabolomics analysis upon RT/TMZ therapies in a truly refractory and reliable mouse triple-negative GBM (G422(TN)) preclinical model. Consistently, ROS generators/scavengers were highly dysregulated in both G422(TN)-tumor and human GBM. The ROS-inducer PL synergized surgery/TMZ, surgery/RT/TMZ or RT/TMZ to achieve long-term survival (LTS) in G422(TN)-mice, but only one LTS-mouse from RT/TMZ/PL therapy passed the rechallenging phase (immune cure). Furthermore, the immunotherapy of RT/TMZ/PL plus anti-PD-1 antibody (alpha PD1) doubled LTS (50%) and immune-cured (25%) mice. Glutathione completely abolished PL-synergistic effects. Mechanistically, ROS reduction was associated with RT/TMZ-resistance. PL restored ROS level (mainly via reversing Duox2/Gpx2), activated oxidative stress/inflammation/immune responses signature genes, reduced cancer cell proliferation/invasion, increased apoptosis and CD3(+)/CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-lymphocytes in G422(TN)-tumor on the basis of RT/TMZ regimen.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that PL reverses RT/TMZ-reduced ROS and synergistically resets tumor microenvironment to cure GBM. RT/TMZ/PL or RT/TMZ/PL/alpha PD1 exacts effective immune cure in refractory GBM, deserving a priority for clinical trials.

Automated summary

The study found that RT/TMZ chemotherapy has limited effectiveness in treating GBM, but using the ROS inducer PL can improve its efficacy. Furthermore, combining RT/TMZ/PL with anti-PD-1 antibodies can further enhance the treatment effect and achieve immune cure for GBM. This finding is of great significance for further clinical trials.