EZH2 as a Therapeutic Target in Glioblastoma: A Cellular and Molecular Study

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults and it is currently treated with a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ). Many patients show resistance to TMZ, which is a challenge in the treatment of this type of brain cancer.

New strategies are being tested, like the inhibition of EZH2, a histone methyltransferase which is overexpressed in cancer cells, leading to angiogenesis and metastasis. In this work, the EZH2 inhibitor DZNeP was tested in A172 glioblastoma cells and in A172-TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells.

Inhibition of cell proliferation, adhesion, colony formation, and migration was noted in control and TMZresistant glioblastoma cells after DZNeP treatment. At the level of EZH2 target gene expression, DZNeP decreased EZH2 expression, and increased the expression of its target genes (E-cadherin and TIMP3), which might probably contribute to inhibiting the development of a cancer metastatic phenotype. 

Quality of Life and Sexual Activity after Stereotactic Hypofractionated Radiotherapy of Prostate Cancer Patients

Quality of life (QoL) is an important factor for the cancer patients after treatment. The study aimed to investigate QoL and sexual activity in patients who had undergone stereotactic hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT). Methods: The analysis included 82 prostate cancer patients: 40 patients treated by HRT (33.5 Gy in 5 fractions) and 42 patients treated by standard three-dimensional conformal radiation treatment 3DCRT (70-82 Gy in 35-41 fractions); and 50 healthy men without any type of cancer.

The subjects filled out the questionnaires: EORTC QLQC30 (version 3.0.) and the prostate cancer-specific EORTC QLQ-PR25. The median follow-up was 21 months for HRT patients and 28 months for 3DCRT patients. Results: The tolerance for stereotactic HRT was shown to be good. The QoL and the general health status of HRT patients were higher than of 3DCRT patients and even of healthy men. Most patients treated by HRT felt that they had lost their masculinity.

However, they were still interested in having sex; one third of them were sexually active, most reported satisfaction with their sex life. Conclusions: HRT for prostate cancer patients was an attractive treatment in relation to patients' QoL assessment in the short term analysis.

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