BACKGROUD: Glioma is a common fatal intracranial tumor with an incidence of 6.6 per 100,000 individuals in the USA. It is a deadly brain tumor disease with a median survival time of approximately 15 months. In our recent screenings for the anti-glioma drugs from a library of active components of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we found that NO.66 significantly blocked the proliferation and migration of glioma cells U251 and GL261 at μM concentrations which is much lower than that of the currently used drug TMZ in the clinic. These findings suggest that NO.66 may be a potential new anti-glioma drug.

AIM: In this project, we propose to investigate the effect and underlying mechanisms of NO.66 on glioma growth and metastasis using modern techniques in molecular biology and pharmacology.

METHOD AND REUSLUTS: To study the inhibitory effect of NO.66 on the glioma cells. Colony formation, MTT, Wound healing assay, and Traswell assay are performed in NO.66 treated glioma cells. We found NO.66 shows promising cytotoxicity and inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion in U251 and GL261 glioma cells and is more effective than TMZ. NO.66 can inhibit the growth of subcutaneous tumors in mice and prolong the survival time of mice with intracranial tumors. The mechanisms of the inhibitory effect of NO.66 on glioma cells by JC-1/ROS staining and Flow cytometry. NO.66 can increase ROS accumulation, decrease △ψm and induce cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSION: NO.66 is an effective anti-glioma chemical that blocks the proliferation/ metastasis/ migration of glioma in vitro and in vivo.