Glioblastoma (GBM) is a devastating and highly malignant primary brain tumor, characterized by its aggressive growth and resistance to standard chemotherapies like temozolomide (TMZ). While combination therapies are continuously investigated, acquired chemoresistance remains a massive clinical hurdle that drives rapid tumor recurrence. Finding effective pharmacological interventions to counteract this resistance and halt tumor progression is a critical scientific focus.

This new research, published in Genes & Diseases by researchers from Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Jinfeng Laboratory, and Southwest University, investigated the therapeutic efficacy of CUDC-907, a dual inhibitor targeting both PI3K and HDAC, to combat glioblastoma proliferation and overcome TMZ resistance.

Through rigorous in vitro experiments utilizing multiple GBM cell lines alongside advanced flow cytometry, the researchers systematically evaluated cellular growth and cell cycle dynamics. The data revealed that CUDC-907 treatment arrests the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and induces cellular apoptosis. Comprehensive protein analyses deciphered the underlying intracellular networks, demonstrating that CUDC-907 down-regulates the expression of the critical oncogene MYC, alongside essential cell cycle drivers like CDK2 and CDK4, while simultaneously up-regulating the p21 checkpoint protein. Furthermore, the study uncovered that CUDC-907 significantly suppresses tumor migration and invasion by altering key transition markers, notably reducing N-Cadherin, MMP2, and vimentin expression.

To directly counter the severe chemoresistance typically seen in GBM, the researchers explored the therapeutic potential of combining CUDC-907 with TMZ. Remarkably, comprehensive in vitro, organoid, and in vivo orthotopic mouse models confirmed that administering CUDC-907 alongside TMZ yields a powerful synergistic anti-tumor effect. This dual treatment severely impaired tumor growth, sharply minimizing tumor burden and decreasing Ki67-positive proliferating cells compared to TMZ monotherapy.

Mechanistically, CUDC-907 heightened TMZ sensitivity by significantly disrupting double-strand break repair pathways—evidenced by a massive accumulation of γ-H2AX and PARP1 cleavage—and heavily modulating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway to actively prevent cancer cells from repairing DNA damage. While these data highlight the critical advantage of utilizing a dual PI3K/HDAC inhibitor to boost immediate chemotherapy potency, additional clinical studies are necessary to translate these targeted combination regimens into human therapies.

In conclusion, utilizing CUDC-907 to dismantle the MYC-driven cell cycle and suppress DNA repair mechanisms offers a powerful new strategy to overcome acquired TMZ resistance. This substantial finding directly positions CUDC-907 as a highly compelling therapeutic candidate, uniquely primed to be paired with TMZ to deliver deeper and more durable clinical remissions for patients suffering from highly malignant glioblastoma.

Reference

Title of Original Paper: CUDC-907 inhibits glioblastoma and enhances glioblastoma sensitivity to temozolomide by inhibiting DNA damage repair
Journal: Genes & Diseases
Genes & Diseases is a journal for molecular and translational medicine. The journal primarily focuses on publishing investigations on the molecular bases and experimental therapeutics of human diseases. Publication formats include full length research article, review article, short communication, correspondence, perspectives, commentary, views on news, and research watch.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101948

Funding Information:
The Chongqing Municipal Health Commission Medical Research Project (China) (No. 2024WSJK028)
Chongqing Municipal Education Commission Science and Technology Research Project (China) (No. KJON202300425)

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Genes & Diseases publishes rigorously peer-reviewed and high quality original articles and authoritative reviews that focus on the molecular bases of human diseases. Emphasis is placed on hypothesis-driven, mechanistic studies relevant to pathogenesis and/or experimental therapeutics of human diseases. The journal has worldwide authorship, and a broad scope in basic and translational biomedical research of molecular biology, molecular genetics, and cell biology, including but not limited to cell proliferation and apoptosis, signal transduction, stem cell biology, developmental biology, gene regulation and epigenetics, cancer biology, immunity and infection, neuroscience, disease-specific animal models, gene and cell-based therapies, and regenerative medicine.
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