In Vivo and In Vitro Experimental Study Comparing the Effect of a Combination of Sodium Dichloroacetate and Valproic Acid with That of Temozolomide on Adult Glioblastoma.

To date, there is no effective treatment for glioblastoma (GBM). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of sodium dichloroacetate (NaDCA), a valproic acid and NaDCA combination (VPA-NaDCA), or temozolomide (TMZ) on U87 and T98G cell tumors on the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), and on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), polycomb inhibitory complex catalytic subunit 2 (EZH2), and TP53 gene-encoded p53 protein (p53) in tumors on the CAM, and SLC12A2 (gene encoding Na+-K+-2Cl- (NKCC1) co-tarnsporter), SLC12A5 (gene encoding K+-Cl- (KCC2) co-transporter), SLC5A8 (gene encoding Na+-dependent monocarboxylate transporter) and CDH1 (gene encoding the E-cadherin protein) and CDH2 (gene encoding the N-cadherin protein) in cells. VPA-NaDCA and TMZ reduced the invasion of U87 and T98G tumors, as well as the expression of PCNA and EZH2 in the tumor. TMZ reduced p53 expression in tumors from both cell lines, whereas VPA-NaDCA did not affect the expression of this marker. VPA-NaDCA, but not TMZ, reduced SLC12A2 expression in T98G cells. However, VPA-NaDCA and TMZ did not affect SLC12A2 expression in U87 cells. VPA-NaDCA increased SLC5A8 expression only in U87 cells, and TMZ did not affect gene expression in either cell line. Only VPA-NaDCA increased CDH1 expression and decreased CDH2 expression in T98G cells, whereas TMZ had no effect on gene expression in the study cells. This study demonstrated that VPA-NaDCA exhibits a more effective anticancer effect than NaDCA. The data suggest that VPA-NaDCA has a more effective impact than TMZ; however, the effect of investigational medicines on carcinogenesis varies depending on the cell line. The study of the efficacy of drugs used to treat tumors on the CAM and cells demonstrates that it is essential to assess the effectiveness of treatment, which should be personalized, before administering chemotherapy.