Sponsored by
Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Harvard Medical School have identified a potential new strategy for overcoming temozolomide (TMZ) resistance in glioblastoma (GBM). In a study published in Cancer Medicine, investigators showed that an experimental compound called BA-101, a selective inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), reduced growth and invasion of resistant GBM cells and improved the effectiveness of TMZ in laboratory and mouse models.
The researchers found that resistant GBM cells rely on increased production of nitric oxide through the nNOS pathway to survive chemotherapy. By blocking this pathway, BA-101 appeared to weaken the tumor’s defenses and restore sensitivity to TMZ. However, the approach remains experimental and will require additional preclinical testing and clinical trials before it can be evaluated in patients.