Overexpression of miR-219 as a potential therapeutic strategy of glioblastoma cells in vitro.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. Despite current standard therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide treatment, median survival remains less than 15 months, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies, with microRNAs representing a promising approach. Although the tumor-suppressive role of miR-219 in glioma has been reported, its molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential remain incompletely understood, especially in the context in combination with standard-of-care treatments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to specifically focused on evaluating miR-219 effects on GBM in vitro, in combination with radiation and temozolomide. Our study indicates that miR-219 may modulate tumor-related processes through the negative regulation of target genes such as REST and AKAP13, while its overexpression appears to reinforce the effects of irradiation and TMZ by reducing malignant properties in GBM cells, in both 2D and 3D, and in increasing apoptotic susceptibility in GBM spheroids. Collectively, these findings support further investigation of miR-219 in the context of GBM therapy and suggest that it may contribute to improved treatment responses and reduced treatment resistance.