Genome-wide RNAi screening identifies genes inhibiting the migration of glioblastoma cells

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 12;8(4):e61915. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061915. Print 2013.

Abstract

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) cells are highly invasive, infiltrating into the surrounding normal brain tissue, making it impossible to completely eradicate GBM tumors by surgery or radiation. Increasing evidence also shows that these migratory cells are highly resistant to cytotoxic reagents, but decreasing their migratory capability can re-sensitize them to chemotherapy. These evidences suggest that the migratory cell population may serve as a better therapeutic target for more effective treatment of GBM. In order to understand the regulatory mechanism underlying the motile phenotype, we carried out a genome-wide RNAi screen for genes inhibiting the migration of GBM cells. The screening identified a total of twenty-five primary hits; seven of them were confirmed by secondary screening. Further study showed that three of the genes, FLNA, KHSRP and HCFC1, also functioned in vivo, and knocking them down caused multifocal tumor in a mouse model. Interestingly, two genes, KHSRP and HCFC1, were also found to be correlated with the clinical outcome of GBM patients. These two genes have not been previously associated with cell migration.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Death / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Genes, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Genome, Human / genetics*
  • Glioblastoma / genetics*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering

Grants and funding

The authors have no support or funding to report.