Breakthrough in Glioblastoma Treatment Research at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a therapeutic regime with a nearly 50% cure rate for laboratory models with glioblastoma. The treatment, which combines a small molecule inhibitor with a drug already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is well tolerated by the laboratory models.

Key Developments:

• Combination Therapy: The combination of a myosin II inhibitor and an FDA-approved drug has shown to be particularly effective when combined with radiation therapy.
• Targeting Molecular Motors: Research focuses on nonmuscle myosin II, a versatile motor involved in tumor invasion, cell division, and metabolic regulation.
• Overcoming Drug Resistance: Studies have identified a mechanism of resistance to mitotic kinesin inhibitors and found that adding a second drug can significantly improve survival rates in glioblastoma models.

Quotes from Dr. Steven S. Rosenfeld:

• "The preliminary data is very compelling. We've never seen these results with a small molecule inhibitor in this particular malignant model."
• "Novel approaches, guided by the unique biology of glioblastoma, are desperately needed to make an impact on this disease."

Research Highlights:

• The discovery that myosin IIA plays a major role in regulating tumor-related signaling and contributes to the efficacy of radiation therapy.
• Initial tests found that the myosin II inhibitor increased the survival of glioblastoma laboratory models by 40% to 50%, with no significant adverse effects.
• A study published in June 2022 in Cell Reports showed that the development of resistance to mitotic kinesin inhibitors can be targeted with FDA-approved drugs, potentially doubling or tripling survival rates.

Mayo Clinic's commitment to translating laboratory results into patient care underscores the importance of this research in the ongoing battle against glioblastoma.